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Ukraine

Do you know the Ukrainian night? Oh, you do not know the Ukrainian night! Peer into it. The moon looks from the middle of the sky. The immense vault of heaven has streched, extended even more immense. It burns and breathes. The ground is all in silver light; and a wonderful air is cool-stuffy, and full of bliss, and moves the ocean of fragrances. Divine night! Charming night! Motionlessly, inspiredly have stood the woods full of a gloom, and have thrown a huge shadow from themselves. These lakes are quiet and calm; the cold and gloom of their waters is morosely confined the in dark green walls of gardens. Virgin thickets of bird cherriy and sweet cherriy trees have timidly stretched their roots in a cold and murmur leaves sometimes, like becoming angry and being indignant when beautiful weather-vane — the night wind, having crept instantly, kisses them. All landscape is sleeping. And overhead everything is breathing, everything is marvellous, everyting is solemn. And it's immense in the soul, and wonderful, and the crowds of silver dreams are harmonously arise in its depth. Divine night!

Geography

The country of the East Europe, is boarded in the east and the north with Russia, in northwest — with Belarus, in a southwest — with Moldova, in the West - with Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. In the south it is washed by Black sea, in a southeast — Sea of Azov.

The most part of territory of the country is flat, only in the West there are Carpathian Mountains (Hoverla, 2061 m.) and on the Crimea - Crimean mountains (Roman Kosh, 1545 m.) A total area - 603,7 thousand sq.km. (Crimea - 27 thousand sq.km.)

The population

There is approximately 48,5 million people. The majority of them are Ukrainians (77,8) and Russians (17,3), a fair amount of Byelorussians, Moldavians, Jews, Crimean Tatars and a sveral number of other nations.

A political condition

Democratic republic. The head of the country is president. The head of the government — is prime minister. The legislative body — the Supreme Soviet (Verhovna Rada). Ukraine includes Republic of Crimea as an autonomy, which has it's own Supreme Soviet, Council of Ministers, the Supreme and Arbitration courts,local authorities.

Currency

National currency — the Ukrainian hryvna (hrv.) Banknotes nominal value is in 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 15, 100 and 200 hrv. It is necessary to notice, that there are exist two variants of banknotes face value in 1, 2, 5, 10 and 50 hrv. (the old and new sample) the both variants are accepted everywhere. There are 100 coins in 1 hryvna. Coins nominal value is in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 copecks. You would not have any problems with a currency exchange, but it is necessary to know, that the rate of exchange is usually higher in the centre of the city. In Kiev there is plenty of automatic cash terminals, also today many hotels and restaurants accept Visa and MasterCard, but American Express — is not everywhere accepted. The majority of Ukrainian banks work from 9 am till 6 pm, with a lunch break from 1 till 2 pm, days off — Saturday and Sunday.

Languages

The official language is Ukrainian, but it's mostly used at the Western part of the country. Residents of the central areas are often used Russian, as a first language. English is more common in the capital.

The meal

Ukraine offers a huge number of institutions of national and international kitchens. If you'd like to try dishes of the Ukrainian kitchen you should give preference to such dishes as "Borshch" — red and green; "Vareniki" (dumplings) with cherries, potato, mushrooms, meat or cheese; "Golubtsy" cabbage stuffed with meat, rice, carrots and fried onion; and other traditional Ukrainian dishes as well.

Electricity

In Ukraine the standard electrical voltage is 220 Volt (50 Hertz). But you can use a converter or an Eastern-European plug adapter for your own electrical appliances.

Luggage

Airlines establish their standards of free-of-charge luggage, but it's usually 20 kg — tourist class, 30 kg — business class, 40 kg — the first class. The overweight is paid at the registration.

The visa

For citizens of the European Union, the USA, Canada, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Japan the entrance without visa to Ukraine and transit through it is valid only if the period of stay is less then 90 days. Before visit it is necessary to get visa at a Consular Division of the Embassy of Ukraine located in the country of your residence or if there is no Ukrainian Embassy in the country of your residence than in the neighbour country.