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 Donetsk region was created on July 17,
1932.
The region is situated in the South West part of Ukraine. Its
territory equals to 26,515 thousand square kilometers, i.e. 4,4 % of the total territory of
Ukraine.
Donetsk region is the most densely populated region of Ukraine.
Over 10 % of the entire population of the country lives here. The region is an industrial center
of Donbas, urban population prevailing. Besides, it is a multinational
region — representatives of more than 120 nations live in the area: Ukrainians,
Russians, Greeks, Jews, Germans, Tatars and others.
Climate of the region is a continental one with rather hot and
dry summer and windy cold winter.
Donetsk region has rich natural resources, beautiful areas and
curing springs. Slavyansk salt lakes and springs have medical significance. Two natural
preserves — Khomutovsky Steppe and Slavyanogirrya — are the ones
of national value. In Slavyanogirrya the National Park «Svyaty Gory»
is created. The salt mine in the town of Soledar has a unique natural curing
potential, so a speleological sanatorium was organized in its vicinity. The Azov
Sea shore appears to be a wonderful recreation factor.
The region is rich in fertile black soil and has
sufficient mineral resources. The main ones are coal (about 25 billion tons), rock salt,
fire-clay, mercury, potassium salt, chalk, etc. — about 100 types, including
iron ore.
Industry is an important part of the Donechchyna
economy. The region produces one fifth of the total volume of industrial production
of the state, takes the first place in production of various types of goods
and in export. Over 2000 enterprises are concentrated in this region: coal mining,
metallurgical, chemical, power producing, machine building ones, etc. More than 300 deposits
of minerals are under exploitation.
Metallurgy (49 %) and power production (23,5 %) prevail
in the structure of industry of the region.
Besides, the economy of the region is represented
by powerful agricultural complex. The food and processing branches of industry and
trading complex work efficiently. The economy of the region is served by 137 banks,
17 insurance companies and 24 stock exchanges.
The highly developed transport system is a characteristic
feature of the region. It is represented by railway, auto, sea types
of transport and aviation. Metro is under construction in Donetsk.
The Donetsk region is one of the important areas
of Ukraine being a subject of external economic activities. Recently,
it is inferior only to Kyiv and Dnipropetrivsky region. As for export
it occupies the first place in Ukraine. The main partner of the Donetsk region
in external economic activities is Russian Federation (25% of total external
trade).
The development of external economic relations of the
region was sufficiently improved by the regional state administration having signed the
agreements on trade, economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation between the
Donetsk region and regions of Russian Federation as well as Byelorussia,
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, China, Poland. The development of external economic
relations will be promoted by a presentation of the Donetsk region
in European Parliament in Brussels.
The Law of Ukraine «On special economic zones and
special regime of investment activities in the Donetsk region» gave the
opportunity to create new working places, to reconstruct and equip enterprises
of priority branches. The Donetsk region is on the second place after Kyiv
as for its investment attractiveness among other regions of Ukraine. New investment projects
developing employment are approved by the Council on problems of special economic
zones and special regime of investment activities.
Scientific and research potential of the region
is represented by 6 institutions of the Nation Academy
of Sciences of Ukraine and 78 specialized research and design institutes. There
are 18 higher educational institutions of the 3rd and 4th levels of accreditation
and 81 — of the 1st and 2nd level of accreditation; 50 specialized
institutions and 1279 general schools in the region. The system of higher education
of the region was qualitatively changes. The universities of Donechchyna joined the
Association of European Universities, which fact gave the chance to open virtual chairs
of UNESCO in these institutions. Over 30 programs and projects are being realized
together with the universities of the USA, Australia, Great Britain, Austria, Poland and
other countries.
There are 5 theatres in the region, the famous Donetsk
Opera and Ballet Theatre named after A. Soloviyanenko and the Donetsk Academic Ukrainian Music
and Drama Theatre named after Artem being among them.
Festivals of Arts are held regularly: «Zirky Svitovogo
Baletu» («World Ballet Stars»), «Zolotyy Skyf» («The Golden
Scythian»), «Teatralny Donbas» («Theatrical Donbas»), «Prokofievska
Vesna» («Prokofiev's Spring»), «Otchyy Dim» («The Native
House»), «Solovyiny Yarmarock» («the Nighnitgale's Fair»),
«Zolotyy Klyuchyck» («The Golden Key»), «Troyandy Donetska»
(«The Donetsk Roses»), etc.
825 clubs and palaces of culture, 1073 libraries,
22 museums work in the region.
Much attention is paid to development of sports
in the Donetsk region. The names of prominent sportsmen of Donechchyna are known not
only in Ukraine but all over the world: the Olympic champions Sergii Bubka, Lilia
Pidkopayeva, Vyacheslav Oliinyk; famous sportsmen Ruslan Ponomariov, Oleg Kiryukhin, Yurii
Yermakov, etc. In 2001–2002 the well-known football team
«Shakhtar» won the Cup of Ukraine and became the golden winner of the
Championship of Ukraine. The Donetsk football team «Metalurg» was the bronze
winner of the Championship. The system of children's and youth's sports
schools is developed in the region; the schools of Olympic reserve and
of higher sports mastership work in the Donetsk region.
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