Discover the Amazing City of Zaporozhye
The town of Zaporozhye is situated in the south-east of Ukraine on the both banks of the Dnieper River. The town itself is about 200 years old, though Stone Age remnants excavated in the area show that it has been inhabited for much longer than that. History tells us that Scythians, Samatians and Slavs have all had a chance to make a home on this beautiful little spot by the river.
However the last remaining Slavs fled the area by the end of the 15th century for fear of the Golden Horde Invasion. It was only in the 16th century that the Zaporozhye Cossacks made their way past the rapids of the Dnieper River to this idyllic spot on its banks.
The Cossacks immediately saw the advantages of the Khortitsa Island, which was virtually impregnable, and made it the center of their civilization. The town that served as the starting point for modern day Zaporozhye was founded some time later when a fortress was built at the mouth of the Mokraya Moskovka. The fortress was built by Prince Alexander Golitsyn of the Russian army and the small town that sprang up around it was initially called Alexandrovsk. Not long afterwards, the Zaporozhye Cossacks founded a large village nearby this fortress. Growth of the city was slow as plague and war caused hardships, but Zaporozhye stood firm on its foundations.
Today the city has over a million inhabitants and it stretches some 30 kilometers along the sides of the Dnieper River. The residential areas are large and spacious, with plenty of greenery and light. A walk down Lenin Prospekt – Zaporozhye’s longest road – will take you down to the Dnieper River. However, if you are visiting to see the sights, the most remarkable attraction surely has to be Khortitsa Island. The Island now houses the Antiquity Reserve and Museum. While its historical treasures are immeasurable and intriguing, the surrounding greenery is a popular nature reserve with weekend visitors. All the while, production keeps booming and the city keeps growing quietly in the background.
Of course, in a city of this size you will find ample activities to enjoy, such as going to the theatre, enjoying a movie at the cinema or even taking in a puppet show. The circus is another popular attraction, while night clubs will keep you entertained into the early hours of the morning. Visit Zaporozhye and you’ll find yourself with no shortage of things to do and see in this great city!
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