Kharkov Ukraine city

Content:

overview
history
economy
main attractions

Kharkov Ukraine city overview

Kharkov city coat of arms

Kharkov Ukraine city coat of arms picture

Kharkov city flag

Kharkov city map location

Kharkov Ukraine city map location picture

Kharkov - Euro 2012 city

Kharkov (Ukrainian spelling Kharkiv) is a city and administrative center of Kharkov oblast, northeastern Ukraine. Kharkov city lies at the confluence of Udy, Lopan and Kharkov rivers. Kharkov is the second largest city of Ukraine after Kiev.

Kharkov Ukraine city population - 1,453,000 (2009).
Kharkov Ukraine city land area - 310 sq. km.
Kharkov Ukraine city phone code - +380-57.
Kharkov Ukraine city postal codes - 61001-61204.

Kharkov city streets

Kharkov Ukraine city history

Kharkov was founded in 1656 as a military stronghold to protect Russia's southern marchlands. The part of old kremlin wall survived. The center of a region of fertile soils and rapid colonization in the 18th century, Kharkov quickly developed important trade and handicraft manufactures and became a seat of provincial government in 1732.

Kharkov town nodal position was enhanced in the later 19th century by opening of the adjacent Donets Basin coalfield, first reached by rail from Kharkov in 1869. At that period Kharkov's own industries, especially engineering, grew rapidly.

After the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the establishment of Ukrainian S.S.R., Kharkov city received the status of its first capital but lost this function to Kiev in 1934. During the World War II Kharkov city was bitterly contested and changed hands several times, with very heavy destruction.

Kharkov city view

Kharkov city scenery

Kharkov Ukraine city economy

Today Kharkov city retains its role as a communications center of the country. Kharkov is the largest railway junction of Ukraine, with eight trunk lines converging on it and three main-line stations.

Kharkov city is also a node on the trunk highway system of Ukraine and Russia, with highways to Moscow, Kiev and western Ukraine, to Zaporozhye and the Crimea, and to Rostov-na-Donu and the Caucasus.

Kharkov has a major airport. The city is the center of a metropolitan area comprising about 20 satellite towns.

Kharkov city central marketplace

Kharkov Ukraine city central marketplace photo

The industrial structure of Kharkov city is headed by engineering. The wide range of products includes diesel locomotives, machine tools, mining machinery, tractors and other agricultural machinery, bicycles, generators, steam turbines, and many electrical items. There are also light industries producing foodstuffs and other consumer goods. Much of the power for industry and heating in Kharkov derives from natural gas.

The great destruction of World War II made it possible for contemporary Kharkov to be rebuilt as a city of broad streets, large apartment blocks, imposing, often ponderous administrative and office buildings, and large industrial plants.

Kharkov city Lenin monument

Kharkov Ukraine city Lenin monument photo

Kharkov Ukraine city main attractions

Among survivals of the past of Kharkov city are the 17th-century Pokrovsky Cathedral, the 19th-century Patriarchal Cathedral, and the bell tower commemorating the victory over Napoleon I in 1812.

Kharkov city is one of the most important cultural and educational centers of Ukraine. Kharkov university was founded in 1805. There are numerous other institutions of higher education, including polytechnic, medical, agricultural, and various engineering establishments.

In addition, Kharkov has a number of scientific-research institutions, a park of physical culture, and a botanical garden. Kharkov city has philharmonic hall, several theaters (the oldest of which dates from 1780), planetarium, and several museums. Kharkov city subway system was opened in 1975.