Khmelnitsky region ... Probably, many of us have often heard about the presence of such a region in Ukraine.
Someone was traveling there, someone went deliberately, for example, to visit one of the best wholesale markets in the country, and there are those who know about its existence only because of the harmony with the name of the famous hetman.
At the same time, not everyone knows that the villages of the Khmelnitsky region are truly unique. In them you can get acquainted with the history, traditions and culture of the villages of the western part of the neighboring country. And local residents are always ready not only to share stories from the life of their ancestors, but also to invite travelers to taste the delights of national cuisine and appreciate the color and originality of their home.
general description
Purely geographically, the Khmelnitsky region is located in southwestern Ukraine and is considered the real heart of Podillia.
There are actually enough prerequisites for this: its fields and meadows are covered with a multi-colored carpet, and beautiful gardens bloom on the green hills. What is not a paradise?
In general, Podillia is not in vain called a border and very tolerant region, a real example of peaceful coexistence of various peoples and religions.
The districts of the Khmelnitsky region is a territory on which Ukrainians and Russians, Poles and Tatars, Germans and Jews have lived side by side for centuries. It is hard to imagine that somewhere else on the planet there are still lands where churches and synagogues, churches and mosques peacefully adjoin.
There are magnificent castles throughout the region. The most famous of them are located in such places as Zhvantz, Satanov, Starokonstantinov, Letichev, Medzhibozh, Izyaslav. One cannot but mention the stunning Old Fortress located in Kamenetz-Podolsky.
Geographic features
Khmelnitsky region borders on such territorial units of Ukraine as Rivne (north-west), Zhytomyr (north-east), Vinnitsa (east), Chernivtsi (south), Ternopol (west) region.
By the way, the length of this region from north to south is 220 km, and from west to east - 120 km.
Podolsk Upland (height from 270 to 370 m) is located in the central part of the region. The watersheds of the Southern Bug, Dnieper and Dniester pass through its territory.
The Volyn Upland (height up to 329 m) is located in the northwestern part of the region, and the Polesskaya Lowland (height from 200 to 250 m) is in the north.
The highest point of the region is in the southwest. This is the Great Bugachikha Mountain. Its height is 409 m.
In general, the Khmelnitsky district, the Khmelnitsky region in particular, boasts the presence of many rivers. There are 120 in total, and each of them is more than 10 km long.
Dniester is the largest waterway, the length of which is 160 km. The most significant tributaries are Ushitsa, Zbruch, Southern Bug, Smotrych.
There are several lakes in the Goryní basin.
The largest reservoir is the Dniester. The climate in the region is temperate continental.
Unknown historical data
The map of the Khmelnitsky region has changed significantly several times. As you know, at first, on the territory of Podolia on September 22, 1937, the Kamenetz-Podolsk Region was formed, the administrative center of which until 1941 was the city of the same name. And only on January 4, 1954 it was renamed Khmelnitsky, moving, respectively, and the center.
How many years have people lived here? This question is not so easy to answer as it might seem at first glance.
To date, it is reliably known only that the remains of the oldest monastery in the territory of Podillia, dating back to 1362, were found in Bakota as a result of long excavations. An 11th-century inscription was found there, indicating the time of its foundation. And this means that the Khmelnitsky region (or rather, its settlements) is one of the oldest in Ukraine.
There is a legend that during the invasion of the Tatar horde, monks hid in caves who refused to renounce their faith, and for this they were walled up there alive.
Older people are likely to note that this region was once considered one of the most developed in terms of industry. For example, in 1949, in the Proskurovskaya (Khmelnitsky) motor transport office, the Pobeda car began to be produced - the famous beige taxis with a taximeter. Unfortunately, now they can only be seen in old Soviet films.
Economic development
Nowadays, the economy in the Khmelnitsky region is developing mainly due to its natural wealth. Also today, 260 mineral deposits have been discovered there, thanks to which the porcelain and faience industry is efficiently functioning in the industry and building materials are being produced.
In the northeast of the region, the locations of graphite were discovered, and this automatically served as the reason for the emergence of one of the most promising areas: the development of the mineral resource base.
Also, in the center of the Khmelnitsky region, a place was identified where red and dark gray granite, diorite, labradorite, saponite clays lie.
In the region there are reserves of medicinal, table and mineral waters, therefore, not only Ukrainians, but also guests from abroad come here for rehabilitation.
Today, agricultural and electrical engineering is developing here, as well as cement, tobacco, pulp and paper, sugar, alcohol, confectionery and canning and fruit and vegetable industries.
Khmelnitsky region boasts an honorable first place in industrial production. It is known that the local electric power industry is provided by a powerful and modern nuclear power plant.
Industry Features
In this area, metalworking and mechanical engineering are considered the most developed industry.
At enterprises and factories are actively produced:
- Agreecultural machines. Agreecultural equipment;
- machine tools;
- electrical goods;
- transformers;
- cable;
- forging and technological equipment.
The largest enterprises are considered to be "Cation", "Thermoplastic automatic machine", "Prigma-Press", "Advis", "Elektropribor", OJSC "Shepetovsky cultivator plant" and others.
It should be noted that in the food industry, the most active sectors are:
- sugar (16 plants in total);
- alcohol;
- pasta;
- canned vegetables;
- meat and dairy;
- confectionery;
- brewing;
- flour and cereal;
- tobacco.
The development of light industry is due to the processing of raw materials. Local raw materials are leather, while imported raw materials are wool, cotton, textiles, and leather. The industry in the Khmelnitsky region is also developed in the clothing, textile, footwear, knitwear, and haberdashery industries.
Furniture, containers, construction materials, paper, cardboard are produced by the forestry and woodworking industries.
Agriculture area
It is believed that the environmental conditions in the Khmelnitsky region are favorable for the development of agriculture.
In general, according to experts, Khmelnitsky is the region in which sugar beets are most grown.
Also one of the most important sectors in agriculture of the region is crop production. The main sown area of the region is potatoes, winter wheat, barley, oats, peas, corn and buckwheat.
Vegetable growing is allocated a smaller sown area. More than 40% of the area allocated for planting is fodder crops (corn for silage, perennial grasses, vetch, peas, alfalfa, fodder beets, rapeseed).
In Podillia, gardening is very developed. It grows apples, cherries, apricots, pears, cherries, walnuts. Most of the gardens are located in Vinkovetsky, Dunaevetsky, Novoushitsky and Kamenetz-Podolsky districts. Livestock, pig and meat and dairy industries are also very important in the development of agriculture.
In addition, in the Khmelnitsky region they are engaged in beekeeping, poultry farming, fish farming, sheep breeding and rabbit breeding.
Local population
The population density of Khmelnitsky region is 66.7 people. on km². In total, about 1 million people live here.
The national composition is divided into Ukrainians (90%), Russians (6%), Poles (1.6%), Belarusians (0.2%) and Jews (0.1%).
In some areas, the density of the indigenous population reaches up to 100%.
Ukraine ... Khmelnitsky region ... Khmelnitsky ... This region is always happy for guests, however, it is worth noting that most of the people of Russian nationality live, as a rule, in urban areas. By the way, according to recent data from the latest census, the most impressive number of Russian-speakers settled in the city of Slavuta (Khmelnitsky region).
51% of the population lives in cities, and 49% in villages. Men in the region make up 46.1%, and women - 53.9%.
The land of several religions
Due to the fact that the Khmelnitsky region is inhabited by peoples of different nationalities, many different religions are spread on its territory. Many Orthodox churches are being built in these parts. Most of the parishes and believers are in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Recently, the number of organizations owned by the Greek Catholic Church has increased .
Also in the Khmelnitsky region began to expand the activities of religious communities of the Roman Catholic Church, many Protestant churches appeared.
Piggy bank of interesting facts
- In sec. Pasichna and with. Pilyava there are Cossack schools, which are actively teaching according to the oldest Cossack methodology. Without exception, all students wear the appropriate uniform of the time. In these educational institutions, special attention is paid to the study of the history of Ukraine and the Cossacks, as well as physical training.
- The only cave in Ukraine with an unusual three-tier structure is called Atlantis. It is located in the Kamenetz-Podolsky district, in the village of Zavalye. The floors of this cave are connected by steep, almost sheer passages. The halls and grottoes in it are decorated with beautiful crystals. Atlantis is the second most beautiful gypsum cave in Europe.