Settlement of Mykolayiv oblast' initiated as far back as in the
epoch of late paleolith, in other words more than 15 thousand years ago.
That is an ancient land, south land of plenty of Ukraine.
Scorched by sun steppes run across with blue banks of the Black
sea, astringent, scents of thyme and sagebrush are mixed with
salty fishy wind of the sea. Once, many centuries ago Cimmerian ridded
through feather-grass steppes and bearded Scythians washed their horses
in pure waters of Hipanis – Pivdennyj Buh. And even nowadays, rough
summer heavy showers wash out wreckages of Greek amphoras, darkened Olvian
coins, clay Cossacks pipes… Ancient Greek city-state Olviya (today is an
archeological reserve) not far from Mykolayiv – is an inexhaustible
treasury of scientific discoveries.
Since the first centuries A.D. Slavonic tribes inhabited these
lands, and at the end of the X century the territory
of Mykolayiv oblast was a part
of Kyiv Rus’. A number of aliens encroached on the region – Pechenihy
hordes, Polovtsi, Mongol-Tatars, as well as Lithuanians, Crimean Tatars,
Turks devastated these lands. And just here, on the southern boundary, in
the Wild field, protected the motherland brave knights of freedom –
Zaporiz’ki Cossacks, defending Ukraine
with might and main from Turkish and Tatar armies.
Since the end of the XVII century the development of the region is
connected with the establishment of Zaporiz’ka Sich’. Zaporiz’ki and
alien Cossacks running the risk moved to the sea forming farming zones.
In the result of Russia-Turkish wars, rich farming culture from the north
developed in the steppe.
During severe long war the Russian state asserted its rights for
outlet to the sea, emphatically moving forward to the important strategy
center – Ochakov. Russia
needed its own fleet. And according to Prince Potyomkin at creek of Ingul
in 1788 a new dockyard was built. Around the dockyard a nameless
settlement had been formed. In a year it was given a name after
victorious assault of Ochakiv by the Russian army under the direction of
O.V.Suvorov. The city was occupied on December 1788, on St. Nicolas Day,
seaman protector. New city
was named in his honor.
Political
division
Within the
present limits Mykolayiv oblast’ as an administrative-territorial unit
was formed as a part of Ukraine
on September, 1937. Political division of oblast’ comprises 19 districts,
5 settlement of city estate, 4 regions in the city of Mykolayiv,
287 village councils.
Leadership of Mykolayiv oblast’ consists of the Head, the 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.
Borders
Borders upon Odesa, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovs’k, Kherson
regions.
On the south the territory is washed by the Black sea.
There are 5 custom-houses: “Sea trade port”, “Dnipro-Buz’ky”,
“Oktyabrs’k”, Mykolayiv river port”, “MykolayivInternationalAirport”.
Population
Administratively the region is divided into 19 areas. The region
has 5 regional submission towns, 4 area submission towns, 20 urban type settlements
and more than 919 villages. Mykolayiv region has more than 1,32 million
residents. Mostly people reside in dwells in urban type settlements
(66%). Almost 60% of urban population resides in Mykolayiv - industrial,
cultural and administrative center of Mykolayiv region.
Density of the population is one of the lowest in Ukraine – 52
people per 1 sq. km. Occupying 4,1% of the state territory (15th place
among political divisions of Ukraine) according to the number of
population oblats’ takes 18th place (2,6% of the population of Ukraine).
Economic
potential
Favorable
location of Mykolayiv oblast conditioned on its territory formation of
powerful diversified industry, developed factoryfarm complex, branchy
transportation network, port management significant production,
scientific and social infrastructure. Economic potential comprises 221
powerful and more than 2,3 thousand statistically small industry
enterprises of all types of property and 4,3 thousand farms. According to
volumes of gross additional value per head Mykolayiv oblast’ takes the 10
place among 27 administrative-territorial formations of Ukraine.
One of the first and leading places oblast’ takes in the spheres of
shipbuilding, gas turbine production, alumina, power energy, sunflower
and grain cultivation etc.
In oblast’
function 1187 institutions of culture and art including clubs. In the
structure of 490 state clubs function 2243 club formations and 1656
groups of amateur art activities 77 of them are “national” and
“exemplary”. There are 552 libraries with general stock of 10,3 million
exemplars including state libraries reserving about 10 million exemplars
of library stock. More than 425 thousand people make use of libraries.
About 300 thousand people annually visit Museums of regional lore and art
after Vereshchagin. There are 3 professional theatres and regional
Philharmonic Society. Yearly they issue more than 15 new performances and
concert programs. There is one of the best in Europe
zoo, 3 parks, regional scientific and methodical center of folk art, high
state musical school and 45 aesthetic schools.
Nature and
ecology
There are many picturesque places on the territory
of Mykolayiv oblast’ –
Berezan’ and Tendra islands, Kinburns’ka spit, Stepok tract.
Numerous lakes, channels, sandy shallows, unique birds – that is
amazing Mykolayiv region.
Mykolayivshchyna has 89 territories and objects of nature-reserve
fund: part of Black Sea biosphere park, 26
reserves including state forest reserve Ratsyns’ka Dacha; 30 memorials of
nature including state botanic reserve Stepok. There are also 19 parks –
memorials of landscape art – State Mostovsky park, 13 reserves, Mykolayiv
zoo.
Sand beaches the Black sea coastwise, mild,
warm climate, mineral waters, curative mud create excellent conditions
for treatment and rest. Recreation departments are situated mainly in the
resort zones of Koblevo, Ochakov and Mykolayiv, Function 4 sanatoriums,
17 rest homes, numerous recreation departments, rest camps for children.
