Kherson Oblast

Physical and geographical characteristics

Geographic location

The territory of the Kherson region is 28,461 km², the length from north to south is 180 km, from west to east - 258 km.

The region is located in the steppe zone, on the lower reaches of the Dnieper River . 19 rivers flow on the territory of the region, of which the largest are: the Dnieper - 178 km, Ingulets - 180 km. The Dnieper River divides the region into two parts - the right bank and the left bank, which is also called Northern Tavria.

In the south, the Kherson region is washed by the Black and Azov Seas, the Sivash Bay and the Kakhovka Reservoir .

The main feature of the geographical location is access to the Azov-Black Sea basin and the Dnieper waterway. This opens up wide opportunities for the further development of sea and river transportation, the recreation industry.

Climate

The climate of the Kherson region is temperate continental, arid. Average monthly temperatures: in July +25.4 °C, in January -2.1 °C. On some days in summer the temperature can reach 40 °C, and in winter -20 °C. The duration of the frost-free period is 179 days a year. The average annual rainfall is between 320 mm and 400 mm.

Agriculture

Fields sown with wheat . A typical landscape in the Kherson Region.

Kherson region has a significant potential for the development of agricultural production, large areas of agricultural land with fertile lands (1968.4 thousand hectares, including 1770 thousand hectares of arable land) and a significant amount of effective temperatures. This creates the necessary natural prerequisites for the production of significant volumes of crop and livestock products. Kherson region is an important region for growing high-quality food grains of winter wheat, corn, rice, and sunflower.

The region has significant areas of irrigated land, which allows growing vegetables and gourds. Kherson watermelons, tomatoes, grapes enjoy well-deserved fame throughout Ukraine. The best commodity producers of agricultural products in the Kherson region receive high and stable yields of winter wheat at 50-60 centners per hectare, commercial sunflower seeds at 25-30 centners per hectare, tomatoes at 800-1000 centners per hectare, watermelons at 250-300 centners per hectare. Scientific support for effective farming on irrigated and non-irrigated lands of the Kherson region is provided by the Institute of Irrigated Agriculture of the National Academy of Sciences .

The presence of a developed processing industry makes it possible to process manufactured products directly in the region, thereby reducing the cost of its transportation and preventing the outflow of income to other regions.

Favorable geographical position, relative proximity to important markets of the CIS countries and the Middle East allows the Kherson region to export significant volumes of agricultural products. Potentially, the region has the ability to grow annually at least 2 million tons of food grains, 1 million tons of vegetables and gourds, 35 thousand tons of rice, 100 thousand tons of fruits, 50 thousand tons of grapes and many other products.

Touristic Kherson

Kherson region is washed by the waters of the Black and Azov Seas. More than 200 km of beautiful sandy beaches - the "golden coast of the Kherson region" - annually attracts millions of vacationers. According to its climatic conditions, the Kherson region belongs to the temperate continental climate zone. The climate in the resorts of the region is mild. Winters here have little snow, with changeable weather, and summers are dry and hot. Sea breezes refresh and give coolness, and the proximity of the sea and estuaries make the humidity of the air optimal for relaxation and healing of the body. The swimming season in the resorts of Kherson region begins at the end of May and lasts until mid-September. The water temperature in the Black Sea off the coast of the Kherson region throughout the summer is not lower than 25 degrees Celsius.

Kherson land is the edge of protected areas, where about 80 objects of the natural reserve fund are located, two of the 4 biosphere reserves of Ukraine - Chernomorsky and Askania-Nova , which are included in the UNESCO World Network of Natural Protected Areas, the only desert in Europe - Oleshkovsky Sands - a unique natural object that has no analogues not only in Ukraine, but throughout Europe, an ecologically clean Dnieper delta , healing mud , therapeutic thermal and mineral waters, unique salt lakes .

Modern Kherson region has unique health-improving and resort-recreational opportunities - it is the only region of Ukraine that is washed by the waters of the Black and Azov Seas, the man-made Kakhovka Sea and the salt lake Sivash - the Rotten Sea, which is famous for its healing mud, thermal springs. The Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov and Lake Sivash are washed on both sides by a relatively young creation of nature - the Arabat Spit Spit . Unforgettable impressions are given to tourists by traveling around the islands of Dzharylgach and Biryuchiy , along the banks of the Tendrovsky, Dzharylgatsky, Yagorlytsky bays.

Kherson land carefully preserves the pages of its history - here you can go "from the Varangians to the Greeks", go in search of the southernmost port city of Kievan Rus, travel back to the reign of the Tatar-Mongols and the Principality of Lithuania, visit the places of fateful battles. Only here you can see the world-class heritage - royal mounds : ritual sacred places in which the leaders of nomadic tribes found their last rest. The secrets of the Kherson mounds are no less interesting than the secrets of the Egyptian pyramids. The wind of the Kherson steppes still carries the clatter of the hooves of the nomads and the whistle of the sabers of the glorious Ukrainian Cossacks. Here you can visit the places of the legendary Cossack freemen - Oleshkovskaya , Kamenskaya Sich.

Starting from the 19th century, representatives of almost all European countries came to develop Kherson lands, bringing their culture and way of doing business, developing the territory. And today, in the region with a population of more than a million people, representatives of more than 115 nationalities and nationalities live in mutual understanding and respect, numerous Orthodox, Catholic, Muslim, Lutheran, Jewish churches , historical and cultural monuments are being revived.

The founder of the city is Prince Grigory Aleksandrovich Potemkin. Kherson was destined to become the cradle and first base of the Black Sea Fleet, the first ships were built at its shipyards. Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov, Fedor Fedorovich Ushakov, Iosif Mikhailovich Deribas, Nikolai Ivanovich Korsakov - this is not a complete list of prominent figures of the 18th century involved in the formation of the city.

Modern Kherson is a cozy city on the slopes of the gray Dnieper. Old quarters are buried in the greenery of trees, new districts are being built, and the Dnieper floodplains, like a precious necklace, frame the southern gates of Ukraine - eternally young Kherson.

The culture and history of Kherson are unique and multifaceted. The city is fraught with many temptations for tourists. It has many cozy corners, ancient buildings, temples and parks. The streets, lanes and quiet courtyards of Kherson will become the most eloquent guide to the history of architecture for tourists. Having devoted a day or two to walking around the city, you will look at the rich expositions of Kherson museums in a completely different way. Kherson Music and Drama Theatre. M. Kulish will convince you that professional productions and acting discoveries are made not only on the stages of the capital. And lovers of more active recreation will find in Kherson more than one entertainment complex or club where they can have a great time.