Rivne

Rivne region is situated in the north-west of Ukraine and borders on Belarus. Forests cover more than 1/3 of the territory and swamps take up to 5% of the territory. Winters are mild with frequent thaws, summers are humid and warm. The region has been populated since ancient times. In the 10th century it was included into Volyn principality of Kievan Rus, beginning with the 14th century it was ruled by Lithuania, after Lublin Union since 1569 it was a part of Poland, since 1793 it belonged to Russian Empire, from 1921 to 1939 it was a part of Poland again, since 1939 it was included into Ukrainian SSR within the USSR, and finally it has been within Ukraine since 1991. Nuclear power industry, production of fertilizers, and light industry are the main industries of the region. The largest amber deposit in Ukraine is being developed here. The cultivation of sugar beet, flax and potatoes dominate in agriculture. There are more than 1000 monuments of history, archaeology, urban planning, architecture, and monumental arts in the region. Among them are the fortress in the town of Ostrog, Dubno castle, cloister-fortress in the village of Mezhyrich, cloister and fortress ruins in the town of Koretz, churches and mosques are scattered all over towns and villages of the region, many of them need reconstruction. Recreation tourism is weakly developed but there are several resorts and tourist centers on the rivers banks. The main tourism development trend is educational and sightseeing.