Odessa Oblast

Area-33,300 sq. km.
Population-2,567,000

The Odessa region is located in the far southwest of Ukraine and borders on the Vinnytsia, Kirovograd, Mykolaiv regions and on foreign countries such as the Republic of Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey on land and sea.

The region occupies the territory of the north western Black Sea Area from the bed of the Danube river to Tiligulian estuary (the sea cost within the limits of the region stretches for 300 km and northwards from the sea for 200-250 km). The general area of the region territory makes 5.5% of the territory of Ukraine that almost equals the dimensions of the Republic of Moldova territory (33 400 km ).

The region position on the seacoast and near the state frontier is the basic peculiarity of its economic and geographical distribution.

The region broad bordering on the Azov- Black Sea basin and on great river mains: the Danube, the Dniester, the Don and the Dnieper determines its great advantages and transport potentialities. Effective water routes (the sea and river ones) permit expanding economic relations of the region with Eastern and Central Europe (along the Danube river). The Odessa port and other ports of the region are distributed in the junction of intensive marine and river transport international relations and this determines its considerable transport distribution potential.

Fresh lakes the Kagul, the Yalpug, the Katlabukh, the Kytai and salt ones: the Sasyk, the Alibei, the Burnas, the Budatske, the Stragany are distributed in the leftbank of the lower Danube and in the valley bed and the Dniester estuary, salt estuaries of Khadzhibey and Kuialnik, known for their medicinal muds, are distributed in the eastern part of the region.

The region belongs to the zone of intensive steppe arable farming with developed irrigation. Its coastal part lies in the recreation zone of the northwestern part of the Black Sea area, being distributed in the vicinity of the large industrial districts.

The northern part of the region is distributed in the forest steppe and southern one in the steppe zone. Ordinary and southern humus prevail in the soil of this region part. The average annual temperature varies from +8.2C in the north to +10.8C in the south. The vegetation period lasts from 180 to 210 days. The average annual precipitation varies from 340 mm in the south to 460 mm in the north. Natural conditions are favorable for growing the winter wheat, maize, barley, millet, sunflower. Sugar beet may be grown in the northern and central zones, grapes, in the southern one. These conditions are of essential influence on regional specialization and with respect to peculiarities of rural settlement influence on the territory organization of agricultural production.

The determining peculiarity of the nature resource potential of the region consists of the great and diverse recreation and resort abilities: favorable climate, the sea, medicinal mud and brine of estuaries, sandy beaches, mineral water, historical and cultural values.

Minerals, being of practical interest today, are represented by the building mineral raw materials.

Historical

Systematic population and economic development of the Odessa region territory began in the early 19th century. Until the mid 30s the migration movement was mainly connected with agriculture but quick growth of the cities and a decrease of the state lands reserves strengthened the role of non agricultural migration to cities.

A necessity of economic development of the land, rich for agroclimatic resources and properly distributed both in economic and geographical respects, made the government distribute the land plots both among the native and foreign settlers (Germans, Bulgarians). Their settlements were distributed in the sea regions (Kominternivske, Ovidiopol, Bulgaivka districts) as well as in the Ismail district. The settlers created their okrugs (districts), they received the right of "foreign colonists" and privileged conditions of settlement.

In the early 19th century the Northwestern Black Sea area performed the functions of transit territory the Ukrainian grain being exported through it.

Owing to its unique economic geographical position Odessa had turned into the major Ukrainian grain export port. Even in the middle 19th century it exceeded the Petersburg port as to the cargo turnover volumes.

The construction of railways in the territory of the present Odessa region was the extremely important factor which favored the economical development and population of the land. This factor essentially improved the transport geographical position of Odessa and (together with the availability of various kinds of agricultural raw materials) exerted a decisive effect on quick development of the defense industry in the city. At the end the 19th century there were almost 500 industrial enterprises in Odessa which employed 16 000 workers. They built the wool spinning mills, developed production of ropes. fishery, wine making, flour grinding production, agricultural machine building. The seaport also quickly developed.

The labor power supply had a decisive influence on the growth of urban settlements and port centres. Little urban settlements appeared along the trade roads. They became the local grain trade centres. Different handicrafts as well as plants and enterprises (Balta, Ananiiv. etc.) began developing in them. In the early 20th century Odessa was characterized by the dense population under relatively sparse network of urban and rural settlements.

On February 27, 1932 the Odessa region was created as a part of the Ukrainian SSR. In 1956 it also incorporated the territory of the former Ismail region.

Nowadays the region unites 26 rural districts, 18 cities ( 39% of those in Ukraine), including 6 cities of regional subordination, 12 district towns, 33town type villages, 1 143 rural settlements.

Historical and geographical peculiarities of the region territory population have determined the formation of the districts with compact settlements of a number of national groups: Bulgarians, Moldavians and Gagausians).

Foreign Economic Relations

The Odessa region is the only in Ukraine, member of the Assembly of European regions and Labor Concord of the Danube States. Active part in the work of committees, commissions and sections of the foundations favored the creation of positive image of the region among European partners, the Odessa region was given a special right to be a head of the Labor Concord of the Danube States in 1996-1997. This permits the region to develop more actively the cooperation with the countries of the Danube region and to take part in international programs, financed by the European states, to make propositions to the Council of Europe and other international organizations.

The region cooperates and has partners' relations with the regions of Romania, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Germany, Japan, Russia, Republic of Moldova, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan.