Odessa region

Odessa region is situated in the south-west of Ukraine and occupies substantial coastal strip of the Black Sea. The region borders on Rumania and Moldova in the west. The climate in Odessa region is humid and maritime. Continuous steppe gradually disappears at the seacoast. The rivers are small and often dry out in summer because of hot dry winds and droughts. The region territory has been populated since olden times and was under control of Greeks, Lithuanians, Moldovans, and Crimean Khanate since the end of the 15th century. Russia controlled "Wild Field" territory since the beginning of the 19th century, after several wars with Turkey. The territory was also controlled by Romania in 1920-1940, then by Ukrainian SSR, and finally by Ukraine since 1991. Odessa region is widely developed industrial and agricultural region of Ukraine. The region has a significant stretch of railways, roads, and major sea ports. The enormous number of reserves and ancient monuments on the territory of the region - among them are Belgrod-Dniester fortress, Odessa catacombs, places of worship of the 19th and 20th centuries, Pototsky Palace, Danube Biosphere Reserve - attract visitors from around the world. Odessa itself is of a great appeal to tourists due to its historical center on Deribasovskaya Street and Primorsky Boulevard, and its noteworthy and well-known market "Privoz". Museums, sightseeing, educational tourism, and business tourism are well developed. A huge number of health centers, tourist centers and rest homes are scattered on the shores of the Black Sea estuaries and facilitated the development of recreation tourism. Sea ports played a vital role in the development of the international tourism.