Fact #1
The center of Europe is located precisely in Ukraine – on the section of the Rakhiv-Uzhhorod mountain road.
Although our country is located in Eastern Europe, the European center is located in Ukraine! On the section of the winding Rakhiv-Uzhhorod mountain road, a two-meter sign has been installed, certifying the geographical center of Europe.
In 1887 (at that time, Transcarpathia belonged to Austria-Hungary), in order to build a railway, engineers learned that somewhere in this place should be the center of Europe. Invited Viennese scientists confirmed the guesses and installed a geodetic sign in the form of a concrete slab, certifying their find.
It is worth noting, however, that our center of Europe is by no means a single one. The hypothetical center depends on the method of measurement. Thus, according to modern measurements, Hungary, Estonia and Belarus can claim that the heart of Europe is also in their countries. According to more ancient measurements, but no less authoritatively, Poland and Slovakia can claim this.
Fact #2
Ukraine is the largest of the countries located entirely in Europe.
Ukraine is located in Eastern Europe, in the southwestern part of the Eastern European Plain. Its area is 603,628 km² – it is the largest country among those whose territory lies entirely in Europe. It borders Belarus in the north, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary in the west, Romania and Moldova in the southwest, Russia in the east and northeast. In the south and southeast it is washed by the Black and Azov seas.
Ukraine is a unitary democratic state with a population of 45.49 million (in 2013). As of January 1, 2014, Ukraine had 24 regions, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, 490 districts, and 460 cities (including two cities of national importance – Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, and Sevastopol).
The country has a rather diverse topography: 70% of the territory is occupied by lowlands, 25% by highlands, and 5% by mountains. 63 thousand rivers flow on the territory of Ukraine; about 20 thousand lakes; there are forests, steppes, rocks and even a desert. More than 10,000 km² are occupied by national natural parks.