The list of sights of Ukraine is easy to start, but almost impossible to finish — God has given this land very generously. The banks of the Dnieper, Carpathians, Tovtry, Pobuzhye and lakes of Polesie surprise travelers with their diversity and picturesqueness. One of the options for rich and productive recreation within Ukraine can be rest in the Black Sea, one of the oldest regions of the formation of human civilization.
Geographically, the term «Black Sea» means the lands adjacent to the northern coast of the famous body of water. The «trio» of Ukrainian regions — Odessa, Nikolaevska and Kherson — became the lucky ones. Their recreational resources are enough to strike the sophisticated traveler to the heart.
Let’s try to make a conditional trip along the Black Sea coast of Ukraine. Let’s start from its south-western cordon, the one that divides the native land of Bohdan Khmelnytskyi, V. Lobanovskyi, V. Chernovol and H. Skovoroda (leaders of the rating «Great Ukrainians») with Romania along the Danube.
In the Odessa Black Sea region the attention of travelers deserves a series of cities located on the line along the Danube riverbed. These are the archaeological treasures of Izmail and Reni, Kilia founded by Alexander the Great and Vilkove, nicknamed Ukrainian Venice, because the streets in this settlement are replaced by canals, and instead of cars its inhabitants have to travel by boat.
Here, in the Danube Black Sea coast, is the largest lake of Ukraine — Yalpug, and a dozen of smaller lakes, created by Nature itself for fishing. Ah, yes, part of this part of the Odessa region is allocated to the reserve «Danube Plavni». But, next to it there are thousands of meters of the same marshy shore of the sea and the Danube arms, where you can get away from civilization and hunt for waterfowl.
The parade of attractions of the Black Sea in Odessa region continues with a series of estuaries filled with mineralized water and healing mud, sandy spits, endless vineyards, melons, and the luxurious mouth of the Dniester, which seems to the uninitiated a small sea. The parade, rustling with a plume, is closed by the brilliant Odessa, accompanied by the ladies of the resort — Zatoka and Sergeevka, as well as the cavalier-port — Mr. Illichevsky.
The Black Sea coast of the Nikolaev region is considerably inferior in length and volume to its predecessor. The most interesting objects of this region are the Nikolaev shipyard, the Dnieper-Buzha estuary itself, the landscape park «Kinburn Spit» and the ecologically clean territory adjacent to the Black Sea Biosphere Reserve. The historical star of the region is considered to be the city of Ochakov — the place of Suvorov’s military glory and the most large-scale actions of the Russian-Turkish war.
Compared to the previous hero, the Black Sea coastline of the Kherson region has a longer coastline and a history going back centuries. It was on this territory that the core of Scythia and Sarmatia was once formed, and the hordes of Goths and Huns, Polovtsians and Tatar-Mongols regularly passed through this land, which is confirmed by relevant archaeological finds.
Despite the harsh past, it is here that the main children’s resorts of the country — Skadovsk and Lazurnoye — are located, attracting parents with shallow sea and endless sandy beaches. In addition, not far from them is the Askania-Novaya Nature Reserve, which delights visitors with herds of exotic animals roaming the Ukrainian steppe.
So, it’s time to finish the mini-excursion on the Black Sea sights of Ukraine, otherwise it risks turning into a multi-volume work. To get to know this block, you should go on vacation to the Black Sea coast to get acquainted with happy Odessa and democratic Zatoka, wine-smelling Koblevo and proud of former glory Ochakov.
Welcome to the Black Sea coast!