Settling of Poltavshchyna dates back to
the period of old Stone Age – late Paleolithic
(35-11 thousand years B.C.). Local population has already achieved
comparatively high level of stone processing for implements production, their main occupations were collecting,
hunting, agriculture, cattle-breeding.
At the beginning of the XX century Poltavhchyna
was a part of old Eastern Slavonic tribes. As a result of archeological investigations remains of their
settlements and memorials of material culture have been found. Though
traces of other non-Slavonic nations are found on the territory of Poltava oblast’.
In Kyiv Rus’ times Poltavshchyna
was a part of Pereyaslivska land, which later
became a princedom. Tribes of siveryan and polyan inhabited this land. In Grand Prince VolodymyrSvyatoslavovych
times (980-1015) the building of stronghold series has been initiated
that formed Posuls’kadefense
line. Old Russian chronicles of the XI-XIII mention: Khorol,
Hovtva, Lubny, Horoshyn, Pisochyn, Pyryatyn, Lukom’ye, Lokhvytsya and other armed cities. Firstly, Poltava was mentioned as Ltava
on 6682. Evaluating on our modern calender it
means 1173.
Liberation war of the Ukrainian nation in 1648-1654 had a deep
impact on further development of the region. Rises and falls of the
Cossacks war, repressions after losses (especially near Bratslavshchyna and Podoliya)
cleared the way to national colonization from the right-bank to the
left-bank Ukraine including Poltavshchyna. Significant
Cossack settlement in the south-eastern territory of the region effected in establishment of such districts as: Kremechutsky, Khorolsky, Myrgorodsky, Zinkivsky, Kobelyatsky.
Many Cossack leaders showed their worth in armed struggle against
Polish gentry. Among them the nearest fellow-fighter of BohdanKhmelnytsky, Poltava colonel MartynPushkar, who abided by Het’man
even after his death. When a group of Cossack sergeant-majors under the
direction of I.Vygovsky tried to revive the
Polish magnates domination in Ukraine, M. Pushko was at the
head of the national revolt.
In spring 1658 Hadyach, Myrgorod, Zin’kivhave been involved in the struggle. Although many
settlements have been terribly destroyed (Poltava, Dykan’ka, Opishnya, Zn’kiv)
intentions of Cossack leadership of polish orientation were not
introduced into life.
Today a great work is carried
out aimed at economic reconstruction of the region, special attention is
paid to complex stabilization, machine-building development, enlargement
of ware production of national consumption.
On the north borders
upon Chernihiv and Sumy, on the east – Kharkiv,
on the south – Dnopropetrovs’k and Kirovohrad, on the west – Cherkasy
and Kyiv regions. Area is 28,7 thousand sq. km.
(4,8% of the area of Ukraine). Regional center is
the city of Poltava. Oblast’ is divided into 25 districts, 15
cities including 5 settlements of city estate, 21 urban villages, 1862 villages.
Authority
Poltava authorities consist
of the Head, first deputy of the Head, deputy of the Head of information
sphere, religion, nationalities, culture, sport; deputy of the Head of
energy, industry, transport, and communication; deputy of the Head of
building, communal services and motor road economy; deputy of the Head on
territory development and foreign economic relations; deputy of the Head
of agriculture and food, trade, consumer services of the population;
deputy of the Head on political and legal issues and deputy of the Head on
organizational staff activity of regional state administration on
organization, legal, personnel and inspection work.
Poltava oblast’ is situated in the central part of Ukraine. Area is 28,8 thousand
sq. km. Oblast’ borders upon Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Dnopropetrovs’k, Kirovohrad,
Cherkasy and Kyiv regions. Regional center is the city of Poltava.
Population
Total number of the population is 1693 thousand people, density of
population – 59 people on 1 sq. km.
Oblast’ is divided into 25 districts, 15 cities including 5
settlements of city estate, 21 urban villages, 1862
villages. The largest cities are – Poltava, Kremenchuk, Lubny, Komsomols’k, Myrgorod.
Economic
potential
Industry
In the structure
of industry production the most important are food, fuel industries, mechanical
engineering and ferrous metallurgy. Segment of foodstuffs in the
structure of ware production of national consumption is 77%. In general
there are 374 industry enterprises in the regional that have their
independent balance besides there are 618 small industry enterprises.
Agriculture
In 1999 the gross
grain yield was about 1452,9 thousand tons,
sugar beets – 1002,9 thousand tons, sunflower seeds – 166,2 thousand
tons, potatoes – 279,9 thousand tons. It also produced 120,5 thousand tons of meat, 645,9 thousand tons of milk
and 423,2 million eggs. At the beginning of 1999 there were 1311 farms in
the region.
Culture and
traditions
Poltavshchyna is an important
cultural center of Ukraine. Situated on the
picturesque right bank of Dnipro, hospitable Poltava is famous for its architecture of the
XVII-XIX centuries, beautiful streets, particularly in spring when the
cherry-trees are in blossom and nightingales sing. History of Poltava is connected with the names of many prominent
writers. It is worthy to visit museum of natural history and art.
National crafts are widely developed (embroidery, ceramics); works of Poltava artists are well known all over world.
Nature and
ecology
There are 169 territories and objects of nature and reserve fund:
46 reserved including 11 state parks, 92 memorials of nature one of which
is state, Ustymivsky park, 20 parks – memorials
of landscape art including 4 state parks, 10 reserve tracts.
Favorable climate, dense river network, numerous ponds in combination with
picturesque landscapes, mineral waters, relatively not high urbanization
level form a significant recreation potential of oblast’. The basis of
resort resources – are mineral waters, used for treatment in Myrgorod resort as well as in the resort zone Lishchynivka. On the territory of oblast’ function 18
health centers, 5 sanatoriums for children,
rest home.
