Kharkiv

Mirror Stream

Kharkiv is home to 1.5 million people making it the second most populous city in Ukraine after the capital Kyiv. The city is located in Northeastern Ukraine, approximately 40 km from the Russian border. Kharkiv was named the first capital of Soviet Ukraine in 1919 after the 1917 Russian Revolution. At that time, Ukrainian SSR consisted of only Eastern part of Ukraine. After the whole country was taken over by the Soviet rule, the capital was moved to Kyiv in 1934. People in Kharkiv still refer to the city as “The First Capital”. This nickname can sometimes be seen in media or when cheering for Kharkiv sport teams.

Kharkiv is a big scientific, industrial and educational center of Ukraine. The industrial production in Kharkiv was the highest in USSR during the Soviet era. Plane, tank, tractor, and turbine factories of Kharkiv used to produce machinery for most of the Soviet Union. After the collapse of the USSR, these factories had to adjust to market needs and are operating today with a lower output.

Freedom Square

Kharkiv is one of the most prolific centers of higher education and research in Eastern Europe. There are numerous scientific research institutes in the city concentrating in physics, biology, astronomy, and other fields. Kharkiv is home to 13 national universities and over 30 professional, technical and private higher education institutions. It is a very vibrant and modern city with over 150,000 student population, including 9,000 foreign students from nearly 100 different countries.

Kharkiv is called a green city for its abundance of parks. There are always plenty of things to do for any taste, including visiting museums, theaters, movie theaters, bars/clubs, and restaurants.

Kharkiv has four seasons and a temperate climate. Average winter temperature is -7 °C (20 °F), and the average summer temperature is 21 °C (73 °F). The average rainfall totals 513 mm (20 in) per year, with the most in June and July.

 

Kharkiv Coat of Arms

Kharkiv Coat of Arms

The coat of arms of Kharkov bears caduceus and cornucopia on a green shield. Cornucopia, or “the horn of plenty” symbolizes the abundance of new harvest, and caduceus emphasizes good health. An open book with an atomic symbol symbolizes education and science; a half of a sprocket stands for industry; and four stalks of rye above the green shield symbolize agriculture.