Sevastopol formerly known as Sebastopol, is a port city in Ukraine, located on the Black Sea coast of the Crimean peninsula. It has a population of 342,451. The city, formerly the home of the Soviet Black Sea Fleet, is now a Ukrainian naval base mutually used by the Ukrainian Navy and Russian Navy.

The unique geographic location and navigation conditions of the city's harbours make Sevastopol a strategic important naval point. It is also a popular seaside resort and tourist destination, mainly for visitors from the CIS countries.

The trade and shipbuilding importance of Sevastopol's Port has been growing since the fall of the Soviet Union despite the difficulties that arise from the joint military control over its harbours and piers.

Sevastopol is also an important centre of marine biology research. In particular, studying and training of dolphins has been conducted in the city since the end of World War II, initially as a secret naval program to use these animals for special undersea operations.

Location southwestern part of the Crimean Peninsula, on the same parallel with the Italian city of Milan and the French city of Lyons.

The climate of the Sevastopol region is close to the subtropical climate of the Southern coast of Crimea (dry, clean air, non-freezing sea).  In winter the temperature fluctuates between -2 and + 7 degrees Centigrade. The summer heat is softened by sea breezes - in the daytime they blow from the sea to the land, at night - from the land to the sea. In the evening it is usually a complete lull for 2-3 hours. The annual amount of precipitation is 500-700 mm.

History

The history of Sevastopolco inseparably connected with that of the Black Sea Fleet was being shaped out and enriched by the feats of the Russian sailors. It was no accident that the city's and Fleet's chronicle at the earliest period had to its credit the names of the illustrious Russian naval commanders - F. F. Ushakov, M. P. Lazarev, V. A. Kornilov, P. S. Nakhimov. It was no accident either that the first monument to be set up in Sevastopol was that to military valour —the feat of the small Russian brig "Mercury". On May 14, 1829, the crew of the brig under Lieutenant-Captain A. I. Kazarsky won unexampled victory over two large well-armed Turkish ships. It was a model of heroism, adherence to the military duty, a lofty example to be followed in all times.

Political status and subdivision

Administratively, Sevastopol is a municipality excluded from the surrounding Autonomous Republic of Crimea (see Administrative divisions of Ukraine for more details). The territory of the municipality is 863.5 km? and it is further subdivided into four raions (districts). Besides the City of Sevastopol proper, it also includes 2 towns — Balaklava, Inkerman, urban-type settlement Kacha, and 29 villages.

Economy

Administratively, Sevastopol is a municipality excluded from the surrounding Autonomous Republic of Crimea (see Administrative divisions of Ukraine for more details). The territory of the municipality is 863.5 km? and it is further subdivided into four raions (districts). Besides the City of Sevastopol proper, it also includes 2 towns — Balaklava, Inkerman, urban-type settlement Kacha, and 29 villages.

Science and education

12 research institutes and organizations, including 2 scientific research institutes of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences , the Sevastopol State Polytechnical University (with 10 thousand students), the Sevastopol Institute of Nuclear Energy, the Sevastopol Naval Institute, 12 technical schools and professional schools, 60 comprehensive schools, colleges and lyceums.

Sights and Monuments

After World War II, Sevastopol was entirely rebuilt. The downtown core situated on a peninsula between two narrow inlets features mostly Mediterranean-style, typically three-story residential buildings with columned balconies and arches, with retail and commercial spaces occupying the ground level. Some carefully restored landmarks date back to the early 20th c. (e.g., the Art Nouveau Main Post Office on Bolshaya Morskaya St and the Art Museum on Nakhimovsky Prospect). It has been a long-time tradition for the residents of surrounding suburbs to spend summer evenings by coming to the downtown area for a leisurely stroll with their families along the avenues and boulevards encircling the Central Hill, under the famous Sevastopol chestnut trees, and usually ending up on the waterfront with Marine Boulevard.

Due to its military past, most streets in the city are named after Russian and Soviet military persons. There are hundreds of monuments and plaques in various parts of Sevastopol commemorating its past.

Places of interest

The whole city is one big museum, with over 1,800 monuments and memorials. Among them are Russian, Ukrainian, Armenian, British, French, Georgian, German, Greek, Italian, Jewish, and other historic sites such as the world-famous Khersonesus, "Panorama of the Heroic Defense of Sevastopol during the 1854 - 1855 Crimean War", diorama "Storm of Sapun Mountain on May 7, 1944", "British Crimean Military Memorial," etc. Sevastopol is annually visited by more than 500,000 tourists.

Advantageous geographical situation of the city, its favorable natural climatic conditions, as well as the availability of highly developed industrial, scientific, and human resources make the Sevastopol region one of the most promising international tourist, commercial, and industrial centers of Europe.