Ukraine Habitat Guide

Fractionally larger than France, Ukraine is the second largest country in Europe (Russia, of course, beats everybody hollow when it comes to sheer size!). Ukraine’s a landlocked mass, bounded on the east by Russia; on the west by Poland, Slovakia and Hungary; and on the north by Belarus. To the south lie two inland lakes, the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov . Nearly 95% of Ukraine consists of flat lowlands, drained by rivers like the Dnieper, the Dniester and the Siversky Donets. To the west of the country lie the mountain ranges of the Ukrainian Carpathians; and along the southern part of the Crimean Peninsula are the Crimean Mountains. Most of inland Ukraine consists of rolling grasslands, nearly half of which have now been cultivated- what was once known as the `bread basket of the USSR’.

There is little forest in Ukraine; whatever remains is in the north of the country. Prominent trees include linden, ash, willow, aspen, oak, maple, beech and spruce. Almost a quarter of Ukraine’s endemic flora is found in its forests, especially in the Ukrainian Carpathians and the Crimean Mountains.

The alpine areas of the country are also among the few places where much of Ukraine’s native wildlife is still found.  There are an estimated 45,000 species of animal life in Ukraine, of which the bulk- about 35,000 species- consists of insects (avoid the great outdoors if you don’t like creepy-crawlies!). More visible fauna includes mammals like foxes, martens, wolves, bears, elk and gazelles; some 200-odd species of fish, and a rich bird life, which includes some highly endangered species like the steppe eagle, the Eurasian black vulture and the grey heron.