Kiev

Kiev (Ukrainian: {{Audio|Kyiv.ogg|????}}, Kyiv; Russian: {{Audio|ru-Kiev.ogg|?????}}, Kiev; also spelled Kyiv (see also Cities' alternative names), is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper river. As of 2003, Kiev officially had 2,642,486 inhabitants, although the large number of unregistered migrants would probably raise this figure to about three million. Administratively, Kiev is a national-level subordinated municipality, independent from surrounding Kiev Oblast. Kiev is an important industrial, scientific, educational and cultural center of Eastern Europe. It is home to many high-tech industries, higher education institutions, world-famous museums and art institutions. The city has an extensive infrastructure and highly developed system of public transport, including a Kiev Metro system.

Attractions

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It is said that one can walk from one end of Kiev to the other in the summertime without leaving the shade of its many trees. Most characteristic are the horse-chestnuts ({{lang-uk |???????}} "kashtany").

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Kiev is known as a green city, with two botanical gardens and numerous large and small parks. Notable among these are the World War Two Museum, which offers both indoor and outdoor displays of military history and equipment surrounded by verdant hills overlooking the Dnieper river; the Hidropark, located on an island in the river and accessible by metro or by car, in which an amusement park, swimming beaches, and boat rentals can be found; and Victory Park, a popular destination for strollers, joggers, and cyclists.

Related Topics:
Two botanical gardens - Hidropark

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Boating, fishing, and water sports are popular pastimes. Since the lakes and rivers freeze over in the winter, ice fishermen are frequently seen, as are children with their ice skates. However, the peak of summer is when masses of people can be seen on the shores, swimming or sunbathing, with daytime high temperatures sometimes reaching 30 to 34 °C.

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Kiev's noteworthy architecture includes government buildings such as the Mariyinsky Palace (designed and constructed from 1745 to 1752, then reconstructed in 1870) and the sweeping Ministry of Foreign Affairs building, several Orthodox churches and church complexes such as the Kiev Pechersk Lavra (Monastery of the Caves), St. Sophia Cathedral, St. Andrew's, and St. Vladimir's, the historic Zoloti Vorota fortress, and others such as a nineteenth-century Lutheran church.

Related Topics:
Mariyinsky Palace - 1745 - 1752 - 1870 - Kiev Pechersk Lavra - St. Sophia Cathedral - St. Andrew's - St. Vladimir's - Zoloti Vorota

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The cylindrical Salut hotel, located across from Glory Square and an eternal flame at the WWII Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, is one of Kiev's most recognized landmarks. Its windows command views in all directions from one of the highest points in the city.

Related Topics:
Eternal flame - Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

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Among Kiev's best-known public monuments are the statue of Bohdan Khmel'nyts'kyi astride his horse up the hill from Independence Square and the venerated Volodymyr the Great, baptizer of Rus, overlooking the river above Podil.

Related Topics:
Bohdan Khmel'nyts'kyi - Volodymyr the Great - Baptizer of Rus - Podil

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Kiev is home to several institutions of higher learning, including the Taras Shevchenko State University of Kiev, the Polytechnic Institute, the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, the Agricultural University, and numerous scientific and technical institutes.

Related Topics:
Taras Shevchenko State University of Kiev - Kyiv-Mohyla Academy

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Each residential region has its market, or rynok. Here one will find table after table of individuals hawking everything imaginable: vegetables, fresh and smoked meats, fish, cheese, honey, dairy products such as milk and home-made smetana (sour cream), caviar, cut flowers, housewares, tools and hardware, and clothing. Each of the markets has its own unique mix of products. There is a popular book market by the Petrovka (Ukrainian: Petrivka) metro station.

Related Topics:
Caviar - Petrovka

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Image:House with chimaeras.jpg|House with chimaeras, Pechersk district

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Image:Foreign Ministery.jpg|Ministry of Foreign Affairs

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Image:Uspensky Sobor.jpg|Dormition Cathedral of the Cave Monastery

Related Topics:
Dormition - Cave Monastery

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Image:Palace of Ukraine.jpg|Palace of Ukraine

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Image:Kiev Conservatoriy.jpg|Kiev Conservatory

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Image:Vladimirsky Sobor.jpg|St. Vladimir Cathedral

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Image:Bogorodica-Pirogoscha.jpg|Church of the Theotokos of Pyrogoroshcha, Podil district

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Image:Olga Monument.jpg|Monument to Princess Olga

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Image:Shevchenko University.jpg|National Taras Shevchenko University

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Image:Kiev gate 2001 07 09.jpg|Golden Gate (Zoloti Vorota)

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Image:Kyiv maidan nezalezhnosti.jpg|Independence Square by night

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Image:Photo cathedral 01065 Vid cerkvej Kievo-Pecherskoj lavry i r. Dnepr.jpg|View on the Dnieper

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