Donetsk region was formed on July 2, 1932. It occupies the territory of the south-east of Ukraine. Its area is 26.5 thousand square kilometers, population — 4.5 million people. Administratively, the region is divided into 18 districts, it has 51 cities, 134 urban-type settlements and many rural settlements.
The oblast is located on an undulating plain territory, cut by ravines and gullies. The northeast is occupied by the Donetsk ridge, passing in the west to the Pridneprovskaya lowland, and the southern part is occupied by the Priazovskaya upland. The presence of a large number of slag heaps and quarries is a characteristic feature of the region’s relief. The climate is moderately continental.
As a result of archeological excavations on the territory of the region human settlements were found, belonging to the times of the early Paleolithic — the most ancient period of the Stone Age. Many objects from the Neolithic period (5-3 thousand years B.C.) and the Copper-Bronze Age (3-1 thousand years B.C.) were found. It was also established that in the VII century BC the tribes of Scythians, then Sarmatians lived here. From IV to XII centuries AD the ancient territory of the region was inhabited by Huns, Avars, Bulgars, Pechenegs, Polovtsians. In 1185 there was a battle of the Novgorod prince Igor Svyatoslavovich’s troops with the Polovtsians, described in the «Tale of Igor’s Regiment», and in 1223 there was a battle with the Mongol-Tatars on the Kalka river. (now the river Kalchik). In XVI-XVIII centuries the southern territories were part of the Polovtsian land, the northern territories were part of Slobozhanshchina, and the central part of the territory belonged to the Zaporizhian Sich. The construction of the Ukrainian fortified line in 1731, the Russian-Turkish war of 1735-1739 and the peace treaty of 1774 served as an impetus for the centralized settlement of the steppe by Ukrainians, Russians, Serbs and Greeks, in some places there were settlements of German colonists. The territory of modern Donetsk region to the west of the Kalmius River was included in the Ekaterinoslav Province, the rest of the territory belonged to the Province of the Army of Don.
The discovery of huge deposits of metals, coal and salt plus cheap labor led to the rapid development of industry in the region, begin to open mining educational institutions, the birth of spiritual life. Introduction of novelties of scientific and technical progress into local production by foreign capital contributed to further development of Donetsk industrial basin. Among foreign capitalists the largest was the Englishman James Hughes (Hughes), who built a metallurgical plant and the working settlement of Yuzovka. This settlement later turned into one of the largest cities in Ukraine, Donetsk. Currently, the main industries of Donetsk region are coal and metallurgical. The annual production of high-quality coal amounts to 57 million tons. Among the enterprises of ferrous metallurgy we can highlight the full-cycle plants «Azovstal» and «Ilyicha» in Mariupol, Khartsyzsk Pipe Plant and the plant of steel wire and rope products. The region provides Ukraine with zinc, mercury, lead, refractory metal alloys. The chemical industry of the region is highly developed. Finally, fertile chernozem, favorable climate create ideal conditions for the development of diversified agriculture, which ranks first in Ukraine in terms of gross output.
On the territory of Donetsk region there are many state and private higher and secondary specialized institutions, the educational profile of which is conditioned by the requirements of the developing industries and agriculture of the region. The network of cultural and educational institutions is widely developed: there are 6 state museums in the region, 5 professional theaters, including opera and ballet theater, musical-drama theater, puppet theater, theater for young spectators; practically every district center has a museum of local lore or history.
Many historical, cultural and natural sights attract residents of the region and visitors on tourist trips. The historical and architectural fund of Donetsk region includes 2399 monuments of history, archeology, town-planning and architecture, the largest of which are: State Historical and Architectural Reserve in Slavyanogorsk, Svyatogorsko-Uspensky Monastery XVII-XVIII st., cultural and architectural buildings in Artemovsk, historical and memorial complex on Saur-Mogila, the museum of artist A.I.Kuindzhi and other attractions of the region will satisfy your most diverse needs and interests. Lovers of nature and antiquity will find 38 natural monuments, 13 protected tracts, Velikoanadolsky forest reserve of national importance, Priazovsky National Steppe Reserve, Druzhkovsky petrified trees, the remains of ancient settlements, medieval settlements of the Khazar Khaganate and the Golden Horde.
In general, you will have a lot of interesting meetings and impressions.
Come, get acquainted, explore this amazing region!