In recent days, we have witnessed a terrible war in Ukraine, a country known for its diverse landscape, cultural heritage and traditions. Unfortunately, many people don't know much about this European country, and that's why we found the interesting things that make Ukraine so special.
The grain of Europe
Cultivated land in Ukraine is an ideal place for growing wheat and other food crops. As such, Ukraine was nicknamed the "Grain of Europe" and today is one of the largest producers of wheat in the world.
The largest producer of sunflower seeds
Ukraine is the world's largest producer of sunflower seeds, followed by Russia. It is estimated that the total size of Ukrainian agricultural land on which sunflowers are grown could cover the entire territory of Slovenia.
Geographically, the largest country in Europe
Yes, you read that right. If we do not include Russia in this list, because it is also located in Europe and Asia, Ukraine is geographically the largest country in Europe. Its size is 603,548 square kilometers. Of course, this does not mean that it is the most populated country in Europe, as it has 44 million people.
Seven locations under UNESCO protection
The UNESCO list consists of the world's natural and cultural heritage. Of course, there are many attractions in the area of this vast country. UNESCO recognized as many as seven world heritage sites among them. These are also the most popular tourist destinations in Ukraine. These include Kyiv's St. Sophia Cathedral and the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, the wooden churches of the Polish and Ukrainian Carpathians, the ancient city of Taurus Hersonesos and its choir, the Old Town of Lviv, the residence of the Metropolitans of Bukovina-Dalmatia, Struvey's Arch and the beech rainforests of the Carpathians.
Folk costume
A distinctive folk costume in Ukraine is called Vyshyvanka. In Ukrainian embroidery, the basic colors are black, red and white, and the additional colors are yellow, blue and green. Vyshyvanka is a plain white linen shirt decorated with floral or decorative embroidery. The costume is worn by both men and women.
A ghost town
The largest nuclear disaster occurred in Ukraine in 1986. Within these zones, many cities are still abandoned today. The city of Pripyat attracts tourists from all over the world, as they can take a guided tour of the ghost town that was affected by the nuclear explosion.
Tunnel of love
The Tunnel of Love is a semi-abandoned railway in Klaven in northwestern Ukraine and is considered the most romantic place in the world. The railway was surrounded by nature, which made the tunnel green from both sides. The romantic environment attracts many couples, because many of their love wishes come true when they visit the city.
The deepest subway
The Arsenal Railway is the deepest station in the world, as its depth reaches as much as 105.5 meters deep. The railway was opened to the public in 1960.
The oldest cafes in the world
Controversy still rages about who opened the first coffee shops, whether they were Ukrainians or Austrians. Some argue that the truth is actually somewhere in between. It is believed that Yuri Kulczycki, a Ukrainian war hero, brewed the first cup of coffee in Vienna in the 1680s. The most famous city in Ukraine is Lviv, as it has hundreds of cafes where you can drink your favorite drink.
