Kherson Oblast is located in the south of Ukraine, on the lower reaches of the Dnieper River. It borders Dnepropetrovsk Oblast in the north, Zaporizhzhya Oblast in the east, and Mykolayiv Oblast in the west. Its neighbor to the south is the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. It is the only region in Ukraine washed by three seas at once: the Azov Sea in the southeast, the Black Sea in the southwest and the Sivash Rotten Sea.
The territory of the region is 28.5 thousand km2, its length from north to south is 180 km, and from west to east — 258 km. There are 19 rivers in Kherson Oblast, the largest being the Dnieper and the Ingulets.
Nature has generously endowed this region with its riches. The boundless blue of the sea, the gold of sandy beaches, the fragrant aroma of the steppe have combined into a unique bouquet of beauty and attractiveness. The unique combination of sea and steppe climate has long been attracting people to Kherson region. This coastline was described by Herodotus, and it is enshrined in the myths of Heracles and Achilles.
The first human traces found on this territory date back to the X-V millennium BC. In the III-II millennium BC the steppe was the habitat of cattle-breeding tribes. In VI-III centuries BC the tribes of Scythians formed the first state on this place — Scythia. At the beginning of our century these lands were conquered by the Romans, they were replaced in the III century by the Goths, then by the Huns. In the II-VII centuries the early Slavic tribes became the masters of the steppe, which in the VI-IX centuries were displaced by nomads. The next page in the history of the Kherson region was the emergence of Kievan Rus, it was then that the trade route «from the Varangians to the Greeks» passed through the territory of the present-day Kherson region. The 10th century brought new masters of the interfluve of the Dnieper and Ingultz rivers — the Pechenegs. Since the first half of the XIII century these lands were in the hands of the Tatar-Mongol hordes. In the XIV-XV centuries the Golden Coast was briefly controlled by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which was knocked out by the Crimean Khanate. Of great importance for the history of the region was the Zaporizhian Sich, the Cossacks not only defended the land from Turkish-Tatar invaders, but also contributed to the growth of the population. After the Russian-Turkish wars in XVIII century Kherson region became a part of Russia and was mainly populated by peasants from Kiev, Poltava and Nizhny Novgorod provinces. The region became a center of agriculture and cattle breeding.
What were the following most significant dates in the history of the development of Kherson region?
1778 — the formation of the city of Kherson — the cradle of the Black Sea Fleet.
1803 — the creation of Kherson province with the center in Kherson.
The end of the XIX century. was marked by the growth of trade. The main industries of Kherson province are food, sewing, wool-processing industries, craftsmanship and bushcraft. A railroad is being built. The ports of Kherson, Genichesk, Skadovsk are considered the main trade routes of bread export.
The years 1918-1920 were not easy for Kherson region. Here were the main battles of the civil war, the heavy consequences of which caused devastation and further long recovery.
But peaceful skies did not delight the inhabitants of the region for long. The Great Patriotic War became a heavy test for them. From August to September 1941 there were fierce battles, underground groups and organizations were active during the occupation. By November 1943 almost the whole Kherson region was liberated.
The date of creation of Kherson region is March 30, 1944. The administrative center of the region is located in the city of Kherson.
Today Kherson region is a region with developed industry, economy and culture. Its subsoil is rich in non-metallic minerals: sand, clay, limestone. Here is the largest in Europe Oleshkovsky sand massif with the area of 200 thousand hectares. From the main directions of industry we can name machine building, winemaking, light, fuel, cognac industry and, naturally, shipbuilding and ship repair. More than 200 years ago since the foundation of the city of Kherson this direction is considered to be the main one in Kherson region. What is the pride of the region? First of all, it is the largest shipyard in Ukraine, founded in 1951. The recognized leader in the country is also the Kakhovka Electric Welding Equipment Plant, whose products are in demand on the international market.
It is a wonderful place for recreation and tourism in Ukraine. Game-rich forests, water bodies full of fish, warm climate, numerous attractions and festivals have made Kherson region one of the favorite places for recreation. More than 300 boarding houses, recreation centers, sanatoriums and children’s health camps are located on the seashore of the Tavrian region. Unforgettable nature reserves «Askania Nova» and «Black Sea» attract tourists not only from Ukraine, but also from neighboring countries. And how many other protected places in Tavria blessed by the Creator! These are Biryuchy and Dzharilchag islands with pristine nature and wild animals, and the largest in Europe plavni on the Dnieper.
The main attractions of the Kherson region are: Greco-Sophia Church, Arsenal of 1784, Ochakov Arch of the XVIII century, the grave of the last koshevoy ataman K. Gordienko, Korsun Monastery, Kherson Grand Canyon, Skalodrom in Nikolskoye village.
Sunny Kherson region is always glad to its guests and ready to share all its riches.