Cherkasy

Cherkasy (Ukrainian: Черкаси, also transliterated Cherkassy from Russian: Черкассы) is a city in Central Ukraine. It is the capital of the Cherkasy Oblast (province). The city is the cultural, educational and industrial center. The population is 287,583 (as of 2011).

Understand
It was founded around the 1280s. In the 1360s, the city becoming a part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. At that time was a fortified town on the south edge (of Grand Duchy of Lithuania), along with Vinnytsia, Bratslav and Kaniv making defensive line from Crimean Tatars. During 15th-16th centuries, Cherkassians took part in military marches against Tatars and Turkish. After the Union of Lublin in 1569 Cherkasy became a part of Poland.

Cherkasy was the center of Cossacks, citizens took part in Khmelnychchyna and Koliyivschyna (cossacks' and peasants' rebellions) in the 18th century. After the Second Partition of Poland the city was incorporated into the Kievan Guberniya of the Imperial Russia. In the second half of the 19th century the city got railroad and its experienced a great economical growth. After the October Revolution in 1917 Cherkasy fell under Soviet rule. The Second World War damaged the city greatly. In the 1960s Cherkasy became the chemical giant of the Ukrainian SSR, after "Azot" (the biggest nitrogen fertilizer producing plant), "Himvolokno" (artificial fiber manufacturing plant), "Himreaktyv" (chemical reagents for military purposes) and many others were built in the city. In 1961 a Kremenchuk hydro power plant was built, forming Kremenchuk Water Reservoir with the longest dyke in Ukraine (15 km) with rail and road on it. The city is a big transport hub. The city is on the high right bank of the Dnipro River, in the middle of the Kremenchuk Reservoir, mostly on lowlands.

Climate
The climate is mild continental, with mild winters and warm (or hot) summers. Winters are usually cold and snowy (January is −5.9 °C), severe frosts (up to −25 °C) can be happen. Summers are dry and warm (the average temperature in July is +19.8 °C), with occasional highs reaching +35 °C (95 °F).

By car
Two major automobile routes go through the city: H16 (Uman-Zolotonosha, national route), and P10 (Kaniv-Kremenchuk, regional route). Kyiv is 200 km north from here.

By public transport
Cherkasy has a convenient public transport system:

Single ride tickets in buses cost 13 грн, in trolleybuses — 10 грн.
 * 23 bus routes
 * 22 trolleybus routes

Schedules are available on DozoR (in Ukrainian), EasyWay and Google Maps.

By taxi
Taxi is the easiest way of getting around the city. Some popular taxi companies include:



By scooter
Kick scooter is a funny way to shorten your time while getting around the city.



Swimming

 * Dnipro River beaches. The coastline of the city is as long as 15 kilometres and is usually represented with sand beaches.
 * Dnipro River beaches. The coastline of the city is as long as 15 kilometres and is usually represented with sand beaches.
 * Dnipro River beaches. The coastline of the city is as long as 15 kilometres and is usually represented with sand beaches.

Sport-entertainment centers

 * "Selena" and "Bochka" which can usually be found on the bank of the Dnipro River.

Events

 * Kryzhtal – A sculpture festival (held in winter, sculptures are made of ice).
 * Drevlyandia – A sculpture festival (held in summer, sculptures are made of wood, then placed in parks around the city).
 * Zhyvyi Kamin – A sculpture festival (held in autumn, sculptures are made of stone) with the "Cherkasy's Singing Nights" are held in the open-air theater in park.
 * Tarasova Gora – Am international bike festival, since 2003. Which gathers bikers from Ukraine, Russia, and other European countries. This is the biggest festival of this kind held in Ukraine.

Connect
Dialing code of Cherkasy: 380 (472). Major mobile operators include Kyivstar, MTC, Life.

Go next

 * Dnipro, there is the Dnieper River with the 3-km-long Promenad
 * Kyiv
 * Kropyvnytskyi
 * Uman- 3-4 hours away. A small city, one of the major tourist centers of Ukraine, as well as Jewish religious movements.