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Zaporizhia

Wednesday, 24 October 2007

Zaporizhia is a regional city and a river port on the Dnieper. The population of the city is over 900,000. Zaporizhia came into being in 1770 when a fortress was build here during the Russo-Turkish war of 1768-74. The fortress was named Oleksandrivs'ka after the commander of the First Russian army Oleksandr Golitsyn /1718-83/. I n 1906-1921 the city had the name of Oleksandrivsk. In 1921 the city was renamed Zaporizhia because of its location beneath the Dnieper rapids. Zaporizhia is one of the largest industrial centers of Ukraine. The ferrous and non-ferrous metal industries are major industries of the city. is a cultural and educational center. The city boasts of its University and Institutions, numerous scientific establishments, three theatres the Philharmonic Society, two museums and the Historical and Cultural Khortytsia Reserve. The monuments of architecture include the remains of fortifications on the Khortytsia island, the Dnipro Hydroelectric Power Station /1927-32/, the Drama Theatre /1944-53/. Zaporizhia is the capital of Zaporizhian Region established on January 10,1939. Berdiansk /in 1939-58 Osypenko/ is a district town, health resort and a port on the Sea of Azov. It was founded in 1827 as Kotur-ogly, then Novo-Nogais'k. The name comes from the Berda River. Berda means 'rock'. Berdians'k is an industrial city. It boasts of the Teachers Training institute and two museums. Chernihivka is a district town. It was founded in 1783 by the settlers from Chernihiv. Guliaipole is a district town on the Haichur River. It was founded in 1785 by the serfs and rebelled Haidamaks from the Right Bank Ukraine as a free military village. It was named by the first settlers from Guliaipole /now Zlatopil in the Kirovograd Region/. Guliaipole is hometown of Nestor I. Makhno /1884-1934/. He was buried in Paris near the Communards and on his grave it is written: "Russian Communard Makhno". Kushugum is a settlement of Zaporizhian district. It was founded in 1770 by Zaporizhian Cossacks after the river Kushugum / Tatar for 'fine sand'/. Melitopol is a regional town on the Molochna River. It was founded in 1784 on the site of the village of Novooleksandrivka, former winter camp of the Zaporizhian Cossacks. The town was named Melitopol /Honey Town/ by the Greek settlers because of the sweet fruits grown here. Molochansk /before 1915 Halbshtadt/ is a town on the Molochna River. It was founded in 1803. It came into, being as a German colony under the name of Halbshtad /Half Town/. The present name comes from the name of the river. Molochna is a translation of the original Turkic name of the river Siuten /'siut' - milk/. Orikhiv is a district town on the Konka River. It was founded in 1783 on the site of the Tatar settlement Seven Tatar Mosques. There was a winter camp of Zaporizhian Cossacks. Since 1796 it was a settlement Orikhova Balka. It was named after a hazel grove or by the settlers from the village of Orikhivka of Poltava Region. Pology is a district town on the Konka River. It came into being in connection with the construction of the railway Berdians'k -Kharkiv. It was founded by the settlers from Pology of Kyivan Province. Pology in Ukrainian means a smooth locality. Prymorsk is a district town on the Obytochna River. It was founded in 1822 as Obytocne. In 1822-1964 it had the name of Nohais'k, since 1964 till 1972 -Prymors'ke. The town was named after the Sea of Azov. Tokmak is a town on the Molochna River. It was founded in 1784 by the settlers from Poltava region. The town got its name from the Tokmak River. Tokmak in Tatar means 'well fed'. The town probably was named after the juicy grass in the river valley. Zelenyi Hai is a village of Guliaipole district. It was founded in the 19th century by the settlers from the village of Turkenivka, which stood on the border of the former Osman Empire.