Donetsk Oblast

Donetsk Oblast (, Donets’ka oblast’ or Донеччина, Donechchyna) is an oblast (province) of eastern Ukraine. Its administrative center is Donetsk. Historically, the province is an important part of the Donbas region.

Important cities within the oblast include: Slovyansk, Horlivka, Kramatorsk, Makiivka, Mariupol, Yenakiieve.

Geography

The Donetsk Oblast is located in southeastern Ukraine. The area of the oblast' (26,900km²), comprises about 4.4% of the total area of the country.

Its longitude from north to south is 270 km, from east to west – 190 km. The extreme points of the oblast's borders are: Bilosarayska kosa (spit) on the south, Shevchenko of Velykonovosilkivsky Raion on the west, Verkhnij Kut of Shakhtarsky Raion on the east, Lozove of Krasnolymansky Raion on the north.

The oblast borders the Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts on the southwest, the Luhansk Oblast on the northeast, the Rostov Oblast in the Russian Federation on the east, and with the Azov Sea on the south.

Demographics

Its population (as of 2004) is 4.7 million constitutes 10% of the overall Ukrainian population, making it the most populous and most densely populated region of the country. Its large population is due to the presence of several big industrial cities and numerous villages agglomerated around them (see urbanization).

During the 2004 presidential election, political supporters of Viktor Yanukovych threatened to demand the autonomy status for Donetsk and neighboring oblasts in case if their candidate wouldn't be recognized elected. However, no official moves were ever made.

As of the Ukrainian National Census, 2001, the ethnic groups within the Donetsk Oblast are:

Ukrainians - 2 744,100 (56,9%)
Russians - 1 844,400 (38,2%)
Greeks - 77,500 (1,61%)
Belorussians - 44,500 (0,92%)
Crimean Tatars - 19,200 (0,4%)
Armenians - 15,700 (0,33%)
Jews - 8,800 (0,18%)

As of 2001, the languages spoken within the oblast' are:

Russian - 74,9 %
Ukrainian - 24,1 %
Armenian - 0,13 %

Ecology

The Donetsk Oblast's climate is mostly continental, which is characterized by hot summers and relatively cold winters with changeable snow surfaces. East and southeast strong winds, high temperatures and heavy rain showers are typical in the summer. The average annual rainfall is 524 mm.

The basic minerals found here are: coal (reserves - 25 billion tons), rock salt, lime carbonate, potassium, mercury, asbestos, and graphite. The area is also rich in fertile black earth.

Important resources for recreation within the area are: the mild climate, the Azov Sea coast, curative mud, sources of minerals, and radon and table water. Due to these numerous recreation resources, many resort hotels and camps are located here. There are about 26 health centers and pensions, 52 rest homes and boarding houses, and rest camps for children in the oblast.

The curative bowels in the oblast include the Slovyansk salt lakes and mineral water sources. The oblast also contains many park zones, some of which are of great national value. They include the Khomutivsky steppe and the Azov sea coast. Overall, the Donetsk Oblast contains about 70 objects of nature and park fund including branches of the Ukrainian steppe park, 6 state reserves, 10 memorials of nature, landscapes, and 6 park tracts.

Economy

Industry

The Donetsk Oblast covers more than one half coal, finished steel, coke, cast iron and steel production in Ukraine. Ferrous metallurgy, fuel industry and power industry are in demand in the structure of industry production. There are about 882 industry enterprises that are on independent balance, and 2095 small industry enterprises in the oblast.

The oblast' has a developed transport infrastructure which includes the Donetsk railroad (covers 40% of national transportation), the Mariupol Port, the Donetsk International Airport, passenger airports in Mariupol and Kramatorsk, and dense road systems. In the Donetsk Oblast two special economic zones have been created, Donetsk and Azov, which have a privileged tax regime.

Agriculture

In 1999, the gross grain yield in the oblast was about 999,1 thousand tons, sugar beets – 27,1 thousand tons, sunflower seeds – 309,4 thousand tons, and potatoes – 380,2 thousand tons. Also, 134,2 thousand tons of meat, 494,3 thousand tons of milk and 646,4 million eggs have been produced. At the beginning of 1999 there have been 2108 farms within the oblast.

External links

Information Card of the Region - official site of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine
State Administration of Donetsk Region - official site

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