Zaporizhia

Zaporizhzhia is a city in south-eastern Ukraine, situated on the banks of the Dnieper. It is the administrative centre of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast (region).[3] Zaporizhzhia has a population of 722,713 (2021 est.).

Names and etymology

Until 1921 the city bore the name of Aleksandrovsk after the name of a fortress (Russian: Александровская крепость, romanized: Aleksandrovskaya krepost') that formed a part of the Dnieper Defence Line [ru] of the Russian Empire. In 1921 the city's name changed to the Ukrainian Zaporizhzhia (Russian: Zaporozhye).

The name "Zaporizhzhia" literally refers to the position of the city located beyond the rapids - down-river or south of the Dnieper River rapids, formerly a major impediment to navigation and the site of important portages. (Later, in 1932, the rapids on the Dnieper river were flooded to become part of the reservoir of the Dnieper Hydroelectric Station).

Present and historical names of the city, and their renderings, include: Zaporizhzhia, Zaporizhia, or Zaporizhzhya (UK: /ˌzæpɒˈrɪʒjə/, US: /ˌzɑːpəˈriːʒ(j)ə/; Ukrainian: Запорі́жжя, romanized: Zaporizhzhia IPA: [zɐpoˈr⁽ʲ⁾iʒːɐ] (audio speaker iconlisten)); also Zaporozhye (US: /ˌzɑːpəˈroʊʒə/; Russian: Запоро́жье, romanized: Zaporozhye, IPA: [zəpɐˈroʐjɪ]), and formerly Alexandrovsk (Russian: Алекса́ндровск [ɐlʲɪˈksandrəfsk]) or Oleksandrivsk (Ukrainian: Олекса́ндрівськ [olekˈsɑnd⁽ʲ⁾r⁽ʲ⁾iu̯sʲk]).

Pre-foundation history

Archaeological finds show that about two or three thousand years ago Scythians lived around the modern city. Later, Khazars, Pechenegs, Kuman, Tatars and Slavs dwelt there. The trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks passed through the island of Khortytsia. These territories were called the "Wild Fields", because they were not under the control of any state (it was the land between the highly eroded borders of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Grand Duchy of Moscow, and the Ottoman Empire).

In 1552 Dmytro Vyshnevetsky erected wood-earth fortifications on the small island Little Khortytsia which is near the western shore of Khortytsia island. Archeologists consider these fortifications to be a prototype for the Zaporizhzhian Sich — the stronghold of the paramilitary peasant regiments of Cossacks.

Geography

The city is located in south-eastern Ukraine. The Dnieper river splits the city for two parts between them is located the Khortytsia island. The city covers 334 km2 at an elevation of 50 m above sea level.

Two streams around Khortytsia island are called the New and Old Dnieper. The New Dnieper is about 800 m (2600 feet) wide and the Old Dnieper is about 200 m (650 feet). The island has 12 km × 2 km (7.5 mi × 1.2 mi) sizes. There are also several small rivers in the city, which enter the Dnieper: Sukha and Mokra Moskovka, Kushuhum, and Verkhnia Khortytsia.

The flora of Khortytsia island is unique and diverse due to the dry steppe air and a large freshwater basin around, which cleans the polluted by industries air. Khortytsia Island is a national park. The island surface is cut by large ravines ("balka"), hiking routes and historical monuments. The island is a very popular recreational area for both kids and adults. There are a large number of sanatoriums, resorts and health centers. The comfortable sand beaches for swimming and other water activities are present here as well.

It is the administrative centre of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast (region).[3] Zaporizhzhia has a population of 722,713 (2021 est.)

Zaporizhzhia is known for its island of Khortytsia and Dnieper Hydroelectric Station. It is also an important industrial centre producing steel, aluminium, aircraft engines, automobiles, transformers for substations, and other heavy industry goods.