Task 1. Read the text

AT THE MAP of Ukraine

Today, Ukraine is included in all the world atlases. But there did exist maps on which Ukraine was not designated. In the past foreign invaders tried more than once to destroy it and repeatedly tried to enslave the country. For many decades fierce battles thundered over Ukraine, antifeudal and peasant-cossack uprisings engulfed it.

Today Ukraine occupies a leading place in world science and technology. The scientists of Ukraine are engaged in researches in the most important trends of scientific-technical progress. They are working on problems the solution of which will influence many aspects of life and human activity.

The term Ukraine was first mentioned in the chronicles in the 12^th century as a geographical name for the southern lands of the ancient Rus State. In the process of the creation of a Ukrainian nationality the name Ukraine began to be associated with southwestern Rus territories of Kyiv, Chernihiv, Volyn, Podillya, Eastern Galicia, Transcarpathia, Northern Bukovyna and Zaporizhya regions.

With time the people who lived on those lands became to be known as Ukrainians. Ukrainians speak the Ukrainian language. According to UNESCO Ukrainian occupies 22^nd place among the world languages and second place among the Slav languages after Russian.

What is Ukraine’s territory?

Theterritory of Ukraine is 603, 7 thousand square kilometers. Two such countries as Italy can be placed on this territory. Ukraine occupies 42^nd place in the world as to its territory being larger than any country in Western Europe. Ukraine stretches for 1300 km from east to west and 900 km from north to south. Ukraine is larger than France and Great Britain but considerably smaller than Russia. The geographical positionof Ukraine is very favourable because the country lies on the crossroads of the ways from Asia to Europe. Since the times of Kyivan Rus Ukrainian roads have been used for trade contacts.

Ukraine borders on Russia, Moldova, Rumania, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland and Belarus. The geographical position of Ukraine is ideal for the development of its resources.

The climate of Ukraine is determined by its geographical location. Since Ukraine lies in the south-eastern part of Central Europe rather far from the Atlantic Ocean and close to Asia, it has a moderate continental climate, with a long summer and a short winter. Together with its fertile black soil it is ideal for the development of intensive agriculture. Eastern Ukraine is slightly colder in winter and warmer in summer than Western Ukraine.Temperatures in Kharkiv average -7c in January and +20C in July, in Lviv -4 and +18.

Ukraine is the country of many rivers. The Dnieper /Dnipro/ River divides Ukraine into two parts: Right Bank and Left-Bank Ukraine. The Dnieper River /2285 km/ flows through the heart of the country /1205km/ and empties into the Black Sea. The Dnieper is one of the longest European rivers and one of the main sources of hydroelectric power in the country. The Danube /2850km/ gives Ukraine access to European countries and the Siversky Donets - to the Don.

In the south Ukraine is bounded by the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. The Black Sea and navigable rivers have promoted the development of trade and culture. The coasts of the Azov Sea and the Black Sea are good for ports. There are a lot of big sea ports, for example, Odessa, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Izmail, Mariupol.

Ukraine consists of a flat, fertile plain occupied by steppes and forest-steppe regions. Lowlands occupies a considerable part of the country. The Polissia Lowland lies in the North. The Dnieper Lowland runs along the left bank of the Dnieper River. The Black Sea Lowland skirts the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. In its northern plain there are large stretches of marshland and many forest-rimmed lakes. In the south much of the landscape is a semiarid, treeless plain.

The Dnieper Plateau lies between the Southern Buh and the Dnieper. It is 321 m high. The Volyhnia Plateau is cut by the valleys of 200 m. The Azov Plateau and the Donets Ridge lie in the southeast of Ukraine.

Within the borders of Ukraine there are the Carpathian Mountains with the highest peak Hoverla 2061 m high. The Carpathians have the summits and gentle slopes. There are many treeless summits, which are called poionynas. The Crimean Mountains with their southern steep slopes stretch in three parallel ranges. The highest peak of the Main Range Roman Kosh is 1545 m high.

The economic potential of Ukraine is great. Coal is Ukraine’s most abundant and heavily exploited mineral resource. There are also significant reserves of natural gas, uranium, and oil, though the latter remains largely unexploited. Steel production, machine building, engineering, and chemical preceding are the main industries. Ukraine is criss-crossed by railroads and highways oil and gas pipelines. It has close economic ties with Eastern and Western Europe.

Task 2. Discuss the answers to the questions with your groupmates.

1. What is the history of Ukraine?

2. What is the territory of Ukraine?

3. What is geographical position of Ukraine ideal for?

4. What is the role of the Dnieper?

5. What is the role of the Danube?

6. What are the mountains of Ukraine?

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