Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast

Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast
Івано-Франківська область
Ivano-Frankivs’ka oblast’
Oblast
Flag of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast
Flag		Coat of arms of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast
Coat of arms
Nickname(s): Івано-Франківщина (Ivano-Frankivshchyna); Prykarpattia
Country  Ukraine
Established December 4, 1939 (as "Stanislav Oblast")
Administrative center Ivano-Frankivsk
Largest cities Ivano-Frankivsk, Kalush, Kolomyia
Government
 • Governor Oleh Honcharuk[1] (Batkivshchyna[1])
 • Oblast council 114 (120) seats
 • Chairperson Vasyl' Skrypnychuk (Svoboda)
Area
 • Total 13,900 km2 (5,400 sq mi)
Area rank Ranked 22nd
Population (October 2008[2])
 • Total 1,381,700
 • Rank Ranked 13th
 • Density 99/km2 (260/sq mi)
Demographics
 • Official language(s) Ukrainian
 • Average salary UAH 889 (2006)
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 • Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code 88-90xxx
Area code +380-34
ISO 3166 code UA-26
Vehicle registration AT
Raions 14
Cities (total) 15
• Regional cities 5
Urban-type settlements 24
Villages 477[3][4]
FIPS 10-4 UP06
Website www.if.gov.ua
www.rada.gov.ua

Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast (Ukrainian: Івано-Франківська область, translit. Ivano-Frankivs’ka oblast’; also referred to as Prykarpattia – Ukrainian: Прикарпаття or formerly as Stanislavshchyna or Stanislavivshchyna – Ukrainian: Станіславщина or Станиславівщина) is an oblast (region) in western Ukraine. Its administrative center is the city of Ivano-Frankivsk. As is the case with most other oblasts of Ukraine this region has the same name as its administrative center – which was renamed by the Soviets after the Ukrainian writer, nationalist and socialist Ivan Franko on November 9, 1962. Population: 1,382,352 (2016 est.)[5].

Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast is also known to Ukrainians by a deep-rooted alternative name: Prykarpattia (although some sources may also consider the southern Lviv Oblast including such cities as Stryi, Truskavets, and Drohobych, as also part of Prykarpattia). Prykarpattia, together with Lviv and Ternopil regions, was the main body of the historic region of eastern Halychyna; which in the 13th century was a part of the Kingdom of Rus and the Halych-Volyn Principality (see Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia). Along with the Lviv and Ternopil regions Prykarpattia is a component of the Carpathian Euroregion.

During the times of the Second Polish Republic the area was known as Stanisławów Voivodeship (1918–1939) and later, after the Invasion of Poland, as Stanislav Oblast (1939–1962). Until the 20th century the major center of the region was the city of Kolomyia (which is a major cultural center of Pokuttya, the traditional name for the southern part of the oblast).

Name

As with the rest of Ukraine's oblasts Ivano-Frankivsk may also be known by its matronymical name Ivano-Frankivshchyna. However, that name did not receive general public acceptance and commonly Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast is almost always called Prykarpattya – a historic name for the same region. (Geographically the historic region covers a much larger portion of Ukraine than just the Ivano-Frankivsk region.)

Geography

Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast borders Lviv Oblast to its north and west, Zakarpattya Oblast to its south-west, has a 50-km long state border with Romania (Maramureş County) to its immediate south, and it borders Chernivtsi Oblast to the south-east and Ternopil Oblast to the east. It is situated partly in the Eastern European Plain and partly Carpathian Foothills. The oblast may be divided into three regions: mountainous, pre-mountainous, and plains.

The climate is mildly-continental and damp with cool summers and mild winters. The average monthly temperature in June is 18 °C (64 °F) with 12 to 16 °C (54 to 61 °F) in the mountains. The average monthly temperature in January is −4 °C (25 °F) with −6 °C (21 °F) in the mountains. Average precipitation varies annually around 650 mm (25.6 in) with 1,550 mm (61 in) in the mountains.

Relief

Geology of Ukraine

The region is situated between two main regional tectonic plates: Carpathian fold belt and Volhynia-Podillya plate. The most prominent features of the first one are the Carpathian Mountains, while the second one - Dniester river.

The Carpathian Mountains contribute tremendously to the change in relief of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast and their elevation rises from north-east to south-west stretching along the oblast's south-western border. The elevation of the oblast varies from 230m to 2,061m above sea level. The mountains occupy almost one half of the whole Oblast and consist of two main mountain ranges: the Gorgany (highest peak – Mt. Syvulya Major (1,836m)) and the Chornohora range (highest peak – Mt. Hoverla (2,061m)).

The rest of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast is located within the Dniester river and Prut river valleys. The plains of the oblast are part of the Carpathian Foothills and Opillia Upland (part of Podillia Upland) which are cut through by Dniester. The upland has a temperate-climate habitat mixed with grassland and woodland – also known as the forest steppe. The relief of the region consists mostly of rolling hills of 230-400m over the sea level. Near river valleys are common canyons and ravines.

Main article: Opillia Upland

The Dniester flows mainly through the Halych Raion and along the administrative border between Ivano-Frankivsk and Ternopil Oblasts. The territory of the region within immediate proximity to the river is traditionally known as Opillia. Opillia, however, stretches far beyond the oblast and only covers two of its raions: Halych Raion and Rohatyn Raion, both located in the north. Relief in the area consists of rolling hills uplands.

The Carpathian foothills consist mostly of low denudation accumulative uplands, while the right bank of Dniester along the border with the Ternopil Oblast depicts karst type relief of Pokuttia Upland. Because of it near that area along Dniester relief shows forms of canyon. Pokuttia Upland between Bystrytsia of Nadvirna and Prut River (Prut-Bystrytsia Upland) serves as drainage divide within the oblast between Dniester and Prut. Carpathian foothills have two depressions: one is at the confluence of Bystrytsia of Solotvyn, Bystrytsia of Nadvirna, Vorona and Bystrytsia rivers, called Bystrytsia Depression, and another is around the city of Kalush, called Kalush Depression.

Hydrology

Oblast has plethora of rivers, waterfalls, mountainous brooks, and smaller ponds, but there is almost no other type of bodies of water such as lakes and water reservoirs. Most of rivers either flow into Dniester or Prut River (tributary of Danube). The total water drainage area of the region is 13,900 km2 (5,400 sq mi). Segments of Dniester and Cheremosh River are used as administrative borders with Ternopil and Chernivtsi oblasts respectfully.

The water drainage divide between Dniester and Prut cuts the region through middle of following districts: Nadvirna Raion, Kolomyia Raion, Tlumach Raion, and Horodenka Raion.

Nature Sanctuaries

The region is a home to some 456 preserved areas (on June 1, 2006) of some 195,633 ha (483,420 acres), 30 out of which are of all-national importance with an area of 108,742 ha (268,710 acres) and the rest of a local importance.[6] In the Ivano-Frankivsk Region is located a strict nature reserve Gorgany that was created in 1996. There are five national parks in the region. There are numerous natural monuments of feature and habitat management areas (zakazniks).

Park District
Carpathian National Nature Park Verkhovyna / Nadvirna
National Nature Park Hutsulshchyna Verkhovyna
Halych National Nature Park Halych
Verkhovyna National Nature Park Verkhovyna
National Nature Park Synyohora Bohorodchany
Nature Preserve District
Nature Preserve Gorgany Nadvirna

Government

The government in the region is headed by the chairman of the regional state administration (for simplicity sake - governor) appointed by the President of Ukraine. The governor appoints his deputies forming his regional governing cabinet to supervise the government policies in the region. Aside of the state administration the region has its own council that is headed by its chairman. The composition of the council depends on the popular vote in the region, while the chairman is elected within the elected council.

Regional State Administration

Regional State Administration consists of the chairman and his deputies (5) supported by the "aparat" of the administration. Within the administration are numerous departments, each of them headed by a chief of department. The Ivano-Frankivsk Region State Administration has 17 departments and other government institutions such as the Children Service, regional state archives, and others.

Regional council
Seats and percentage
Svoboda (17)
  
 14.90%
Fatherland (16)
  
 14.00%
Our Ukraine (15)
  
 13.20%
Front of Changes (13)
  
 11.40%
Party of Regions (11)
  
 9.60%
Ukrainian Party (11)
  
 9.60%
People's Party (9)
  
 7.90%
Revival (5)
  
 4.40%
Ukrainian People's Party (5)
  
 4.40%
Cathedral (4)
  
 3.50%
RUKh (3)
  
 2.60%
UDAR (2)
  
 1.80%
For Ukraine! (1)
  
 0.90%

Regional Subdivisions

Primary divisions

The Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast is administratively subdivided into 14 districts (raions) as well as 5 cities (municipalities) which represent a separate raion and in direct subordination to the regional government, among which are Bolekhiv, Kalush, Kolomyya, Yaremche, and the administrative center of the region, Ivano-Frankivsk. The formation of the region was established in 1921 in the Second Polish Republic and was in majority preserved during the Soviet times. Most of the districts (former powiats) were reestablished as well in 1960s. The major industrial and cultural centers of the region were given a wider form of autonomy and assigned as the cities of regional subordination.

Raions of the Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast
No. Name
Created		 COA Administrative Center
Type		 Area (km2 / sq mi)
Population (2001)
1 Bohorodchany Raion
January 1, 1947		 Bohorodchany
(Urban-type settlement)		 799 km2 (308 sq mi)
70,212
2 Verkhovyna Raion
December 8, 1966		 Verkhovyna
(Urban-type settlement)		 1,254 km2 (484 sq mi)
30,079
3 Halych Raion
January 1, 1947		 Halych
(City)		 723 km2 (279 sq mi)
65,640
4 Horodenka Raion
January 1, 1947		 Horodenka
(City)		 747 km2 (288 sq mi)
60,881
5 Dolyna Raion
January 1, 1947		 Dolyna
(City)		 1,248 km2 (482 sq mi)
71,059
6 Kalush Raion
January 1, 1947		 Kalush
(City)		 647 km2 (250 sq mi)
62,883
7 Kolomyia Raion
January 1, 1947		 Kolomyia
(City)		 1,026 km2 (396 sq mi)
105,940
8 Kosiv Raion
January 1, 1947		 Kosiv
(City)		 903 km2 (349 sq mi)
90,167
9 Nadvirna Raion
January 4, 1965		 Nadvirna
(City)		 1,294 km2 (500 sq mi)
113,508
10 Rohatyn Raion
January 4, 1965		 Rohatyn
(City)		 815 km2 (315 sq mi)
51,125
11 Rozhniativ Raion
January 4, 1965		 Rozhniativ
(Urban-type settlement)		 1,303 km2 (503 sq mi)
75,598
12 Sniatyn Raion
January 4, 1965		 Sniatyn
(City)		 602 km2 (232 sq mi)
68,971
13 Tysmenytsia Raion
December 8, 1966		 Tysmenytsia
(City)		 736 km2 (284 sq mi)
85,400
14 Tlumach Raion
January 4, 1965		 Tlumach
(City)		 684 km2 (264 sq mi)
52,835
Average 912.9 km2 (352.5 sq mi)
71,735.6
Main city municipalities of the Ivano-Frankivsk Region
a Bolekhiv
October 21, 1993		 Bolekhiv
(City)		 300 km2 (120 sq mi)
21,232
b Ivano-Frankivsk
October 28, 1963		 Ivano-Frankivsk
(City)		 84 km2 (32 sq mi)
230,443
c Kalush
March 20, 1972		 Kalush
(City)		 65 km2 (25 sq mi)
67,887
d Kolomyia
October 28, 1963		 Kolomyia
(City)		 41 km2 (16 sq mi)
61,448
e Yaremche
December 30, 1977		 Yaremche
(City)		 657 km2 (254 sq mi)
20,821
Burshtyn
March 11, 2014		 Burshtyn
(City)		 657 km2 (254 sq mi)
20,821
Total 1,147 km2 (443 sq mi)
401,831 (27.6%)

Secondary divisions

City municipalities (councils)/mayors

The oblast has 15 cities which are (alphabetical order): Bolekhiv, Burshtyn, Dolyna, Halych, Horodenka, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kalush, Kolomyia, Kosiv, Nadvirna, Rohatyn, Sniatyn, Tlumach, Tysmenytsia, and Yaremche. Five of those cities are of regional importance and the other ten are of district importance. All cities have its own council and mayor that represent a local form of self-government allowed by the laws on local administration and the Constitution of Ukraine. City municipalities of the region are independent from any district administration.

Town municipalities (councils)

Within the region there are 24 urbanized settlements (towns) which are a special settlement classification inherited from the Soviet municipal organization. Three of those towns serve as administrative centers of their respective districts. Each town has its own council that along with surrounding village councils compose a district administration which has its own executive branch, District State Administration, appointed by the President of Ukraine. Towns do not have a mayoral office and their head of the council serves as the main representative of the whole settlement.

Village municipalities (councils)

All other settlements in the region are considered rural and accounted for some 765 localities including villages and 20 selyshches (smaller villages) which are administered by 477 village councils. Some village municipalities consist of several villages, while others are a single-village municipality. There are several villages that are part of city municipalities such as Ivano-Frankivsk, Bolekhiv, and Yaremcha, while all others are spread out across the districts of the region.

Historical overview of subdivisions

When on November 27, 1939 the Soviet regime was established in Stanisławów Voivodeship, the Polish administrative division of it was kept almost the same until January 17, 1940. Only two powiats Stryi and Zydaczow were transferred away.

On December 4, 1939 the voivodeship was officially renamed into Stanislav Oblast. In 1940 the oblast was redivided into 37 raions and two municipalities (cities of oblast subordination). The administrative centers of the former raions were following settlements: Bohorodchany (town), Bolekhiv (city), Bilshivtsi (town), Bukachivtsi (village), Burshtyn (town), Voinylov (village), Vyhoda (village), Halych (town), Hvizdets (town), Horodenka (town), Delyatyn (town), Dolyna (city), Zhabie (village), Zhovten (town), Zabolotiv (town), Kalush (city), Kolomyia (city), Korshiv (village), Kosiv (city), Kuty (town), Lanchyn (town), Lysets (town), Nadvirna (city), Novytsya (village), Obertyn (town), Otynya (town), Pechenizhyn (town), Rohatyn (city), Rozhnyativ (town), Snyatyn (city), Solotvyn (town), Stanislav (city), Tlumach (city), Tysmenytsya (town), Chernelytsya (town), Yabluniv (town), Yaremcha (village). Two municipalities were cities of Stanislav and Kolomyia. On November 11, 1940 Delyatyn Raion was liquidated. On November 16, 1940 Novytsya Raion was re-administrated under town of Perehinske.

During the World War II the region was occupied by the Nazi Germany (see Operation Barbarossa). Along with Lviv, Drohobych and Tarnopil oblasts, it was reorganized on August 1, 1941 into Distrikt Galizien centered in Lemberg and annexed to the General Government. The area of the former Stanislav Oblast was divided into three kreis (counties): Kalusz, Stanislau, and Kolomea. On July 27, 1944 the region was liberated from the Nazi Germany by the Soviet Army (see Lvov–Sandomierz Offensive).

The administrative division of Stanislav Oblast was reinstated and confirmed on January 1, 1947 with the same 36 raions and two municipalities as their existed before the war. Several settlements, however, had their status elevated. The status of a town obtained Bukachivtsi, Vyhoda, and Yaremcha, while Halych and Horodenka became recognized as cities. The next major changes in the region took place in the late 1950s. In 1957 five raions were liquidated: Vyhoda, Zhovten, Kuty, Pechenizhyn, and Chernelytsya. Then another five were liquidated in 1959: Bukachivtsi, Korshiv, Perehinske, Solotvyn, and Stanislav. On December 30, 1962 within the oblast was created the Verkhovyna Industrial Raion, centered in a town of Verkhovyna.[7]

On October 28, 1963 another major change took place when raions of the oblast were re-administered into the six rural raions, one – industrial, and two municipalities. There were the following administrative centers: Bohorodchany, Halych, Horodenka, Kalush, Kolomyia, Kosiv, Dolyna (municipalities – Ivano-Frankivsk (new name) and Kolomyia). On January 4, 1965 Dolyna Industrial Raion Raion was redesigned into the regular raion, while five other previous raions were recreated: Nadvirna, Rohatyn, Rozhnyativ, Snyatyn, and Tlumach. On December 8, 1966 there were created Verkhovyna and Ivano-Frankivsk raions. That was the last major re-administration of the oblast.

On March 20, 1972 in the city of Kalush was created a municipality and it became a city of oblast subordination. On December 30, 1977 the same thing happened to Yaremcha status of which was elevated as well. On March 28, 1982 the Ivano-Frankivsk Raion was re-administrated under the Tysmenytsya Raion. On October 21, 1993 the city of Bolekhiv became of an oblast subordination with its own municipality. On December 14, 2006 Yaremcha was renamed into Yaremche.

Demographics

Year Population
(in thousands)
2001
1,406.1
2011
1,379.6
Regional Administration of Statistics[8]

According to the Ukrainian Census of 2001 most of the population consider themselves Ukrainians with a small Russian diaspora mostly located within the city of Ivano-Frankivsk. The Russian language is the dominant foreign language in the region and well understood by everyone. Among other common foreign languages are Polish, English, and German languages. The population in the region as the rest of the country was on substantial decline

Nationality Number percentage (%)
Ukrainians 1,371,242 97.50
Russians 24,925 1.80
Others (Poles, Belorussians) 4,532 0.32
Total (seven nationalities) 1,406,129 100.00
Ethnic composition of the region
Ukrainians
  
 97.5%
Russians
  
 1.8%
Poles
  
 0.1%
Belarusians
  
 0.1%
Others
  
 0.1%
Source: Ethnic composition of the population of Ukraine, 2001 Census
Largest settlements in the region
# City Population
1 Ivano-Frankivsk 215,288 (2001)
2 Kalush 67,887 (2001)
3 Kolomyia 61,448 (2001)
4 Dolyna 20,696 (2001)
5 Nadvirna 20,620 (2001)
6 Burshtyn 15,182 (2001)
7 Perehinske 12,272 (2001)
8 Bolekhiv 10,590 (2001)
9 Sniatyn 10,210 (2001)
Hutsul plays trembita trumpet
Hutsuls in traditional dress in wedding ceremony in Vorokhta

Age structure

0-14 years: 16.7% Steady (male 118,518/female 112,130)
15-64 years: 69.5% Steady (male 468,589/female 489,596)
65 years and over: 13.8% Steady (male 63,324/female 126,635) (2013 official)

Median age

total: 37.3 years Increase
male: 34.7 years Increase
female: 40.0 years Increase (2013 official)

Culture and Tourism

Ivano Frankivsk Oblast is home of numerous cultural festivals. There are numerous natural and architectural benchmarks that are scattered throughout the region.

One of the famous festivals is the Ukrainian International festival of ethnic music and land art "Sheshory" that usually takes place in the picturesque Hutsul village of the Kosiv Raion Sheshory since 2003.[9] From 2007, however the festival has spread throughout the country taking place in Podillya, Kiev Oblast, and other places. In August 2010 the village of Spas in the Kolomyia Raion hosted a culinary event Smachny Spas in association with "Sheshory", while in July of the same year another eco-cultural event Trypilske kolo in the Rzhyschiv city of Kiev region.

The city of Ivano-Frankivsk hosts several other festivals such as the All-Ukrainian festival of art collectives "Carpathian Spring" that takes place every May. Every two year the festival of modern art "Impreza" takes place every other year. Every odd year the city hosts the festival national-patriotic music and poetry "Freedom". Since May 2001 every year the city of Ivano-Frankivsk is the capital of the European blacksmith movement hosting the "Festival of blacksmith" and the art exhibition "Ornamental Forging" that takes place at the Mickewicz Square and neighboring Andrei Sheptytsky Square in city's old town.

On the territory of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast are located numerous monuments of architectural heritage. On February 8, 1994 near the city of Halych was established the National preserve "Ancient Halych".[10] Among other important sites in the region is the Church of the Holy Spirit located in the city of Rohatyn as well as the Manyava Skete near the village of Manyava in Bohorodchany Raion. The oblast also accounts for some number of various wooden churches of Boykos and Hutsuls traditional architecture.

In the Dolyna Raion (western region) visitors can find the Carpathian Train that still uses the narrow gauge railway system. Train is used for its direct purpose transporting wood as well as for a tourist recreation. The biggest benchmark of the region is the Hoverla mountain, the tallest in the nation. However, due to increased touristic activities in the post-Soviet times the mountain is a subject to a high degree of pollution. No less interesting destination serve the Dovbush rocks that are located near the city of Bolekhiv in mountains. That location was a base of an anti-Polish Peasant movement. Near the Manyava Skete is located the highest waterfall in Ukraine, the Manyava waterfall (22m). In the same Bohorodchany Raion visitors may find the local mud volcano located near the village of Starunia. It was noticed for the first time in 1977 after an earthquake that took place in Romania.

Historical and Cultural Sites

In 1979 Sofia Rotaru performed the song "Krai" ([Native] Land) about Prykarpattia.[11] In the song Rotaru calls Prykarpattia the land of the Cheremosh and Prut rivers.

Transportation

Roads

State Highways

Through Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast runs one European route which travels through the city of Rohatyn in the north. It coincides with the Ukrainian International highway M12 which is the only highway of that classification in the region. The highway travels from Zhydachiv in Lviv Oblast and after passing Rohatyn travels towards Berezhany in Ternopil Oblast.

Beside that highway, through the region runs three Ukrainian National highways of nationwide importance.

There is also small network of minor P-highways.

Regional Highways

T-network (09)

Notable people

People born in Prykarpattya include the historical figures (heroes) Yaroslav Osmomysl, Roxelana, Semen Vysochan and Oleksa Dovbush; writers Mariyka Pidhiryanka, Vasyl Stefanyk, Les Martynovych, Ivan Vahylevych, Marko Cheremshyna, Manès Sperber, artist Svyatoslav Hordynsky (founder of the Association of Independent Ukrainian Artists); leaders of the Ukrainian liberation movement Stepan Bandera and Dmytro Vitovsky; opera singer Maria Stefyuk, singer Mika Newton, poet Dmytro Pavlychko, and many others.

Today's city of Ivano-Frankivsk was home to the Potocki family of Polish high nobles (magnates). The "Great Hetman of the Crown" Józef Potocki was born in what was then Stanisławów.

See also

References

Notes
 Lviv Oblast Lviv Oblast / Ternopil Oblast Ternopil Oblast
Zakarpattia Oblast Ternopil Oblast
   Ivano-Frankivsk  
Zakarpattia Oblast Maramureș County,  Romania Chernivtsi Oblast

Coordinates: 48°39′30″N 24°30′18″E / 48.65833°N 24.50500°E / 48.65833; 24.50500

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