Surprising Facts About Ukraine 🇺🇦

Introduction:

Today we will be exploring 10 surprising facts about Ukraine other than what we have learned about its ongoing conflict with Russia many people don't know too much about Ukraine but despite its current conflicts, Ukraine has much to offer the country is well known for its beautiful and diverse landscape well-preserved culture and tradition and of course the disastrous Chernobyl nuclear accident.

1: The largest country in Europe:

Did you know that it is the largest country in Europe if we really consider it Russia lies in both Asia Europe, therefore, Ukraine is the biggest country located completely within the borders in Europe while Ukraine is the biggest country in terms of area and Europe it is certainly not the biggest in terms of population with a population of about 43 million it is less than the population of Germany and France.

2: Home to 7 world heritage sights:

You may not know this but Ukraine is home to seven world heritage sites these seven sites are protected by the Unesco world heritage list they are also among the best places to visit in Ukraine six of the centers are cultural heritage sites and one of them is a natural heritage site these include kiev's Saint Sophia cathedral and levi's historic center unique wooden churches in the Carpathians and the beach forests that surround them.

3: The national costume of Ukraine :

Vishwanka is the name of the national costume of Ukraine that consists of a white shirt made of linen and decorated with floral and ornamental hand-sewn embroidery Ukrainian visciovanka is distinguished by local embroidery features specific to Ukrainian embroidery and is worn by both men and women the vishwanka not only speaks of its Ukrainian origin but also of the particular region in which it was made so just by examining the embroidery one who is well knowledged about it could find out where in Ukraine a person was from just by the clothes on their back now embroidery is, therefore, an important craft within Ukraine and different techniques exist to suit local styles with their own particular patterns and colors.

4: Home to many ghost towns:

In case you didn't know the Chernobyl nuclear disaster happened in northern Ukraine and this includes the Chernobyl exclusion zone established by the ussr soon after the accident in 1986 within the zones are a number of abandoned towns most notably pripyat that draw interest from all over the world tours of the area including the power plant are actually available at the risk of the traveler in regards to their exposure to nuclear matter tourists can take walks through and around the eerily silent and abandoned ghost towns in some instances visitors have said that some of the areas look ad if people just vanished into thin air leaving everything behind and that the streets feel as though they are just waiting for life to return to them.

5: The tunnel of love:

The tunnel of love is the most photographed places in Ukraine visitors travel from around the world to see the famous tunnel running through the small western town of Cleveland Ukraine's tunnel of love can reportedly trace its origins all the way back to the tensions and secrecy of the cold war this enchanting natural train tunnel is surrounded by green arches formed by trees lining both sides of the single-track railway line its romantic setting attracts many couples to the place and according to the local legends couples who visit the place will have their wishes granted.

6: Deepest metro station in the world:

Did you know that Ukraine is home to the deepest metro station in the world yes the deepest metro station in the world is in arsenalna station located in kiev the capital city of Ukraine this subway station was opened on November 6, 1960, as part of the first stage of the kiev metro build and designed by the Soviet Union this station is located at a whopping 105.5 meters underground.

7: Invention of the kerosene lamp:

Have you ever heard of the kerosene lamp well it was invented in Ukraine in le viv in 1853 pharmacist johann zek and ignaci luke sewic invented the first kerosene lamp the two pharmacists were asked to try and extract alcohol from oil by their boss as they processed the oil they were unable to get alcohol from it but they did find that it released a substance that did not smoke did not have an unpleasant smell and burned quite well this substance is known as kerosene they had the idea of placing the kerosene in a lamp and the first kerosene lamp was hung at the door of their pharmacy and could replace around 10 candles Ignacio continued his work on kerosene lamps and in 1854 he opened the first oil line in the world, later on, he introduced Europe to the very first street lamp and opened an oil dustyllery the world's first Industrial oil refinery.

8:Largest sunflower seed producer:

Ukraine is the world's largest producer of sunflower seeds followed closely by Russia the US is the world's 10th largest producer of sunflower seeds with most being grown in South Dakota and North Dakota interestingly it is estimated that the total size of Ukraine's sunflower farmlands could cover the entire territory of solvenia.

9: The "Breadbasket" of Europe:

The breadbasket of Europe seems to be one of them the vast tracts of arable land in Ukraine with fertile black soil made it an ideal place for growing wheat and other food crops as such it was nicknamed the breadbasket of Europe today Ukraine continues to be one of the largest producers of wheat in the world.

10: The heaviest aircraft ever:

The an225 is the heaviest aircraft ever built with a maximum takeoff weight of 710 tons it holds the record for total airlifted payload of 559 580 pounds as well as airlifted single item payload at 418 830 pounds the Antonov an225 Maria was built in Kiev Ukraine while it was still a part of the soviet union it also has the largest wingspan of any functional aircraft.