Zaporizhia (Ukrainian: ЗапоріжжÑ, translit. Zaporizhzhia, Russian: Запорожье, translit. Zaporozh'ye) is a city in south-central Ukraine, which rests on the banks of the Dnieper River. It is the administrative center of the Zaporizhia Oblast (province), as well as the administrative center of the surrounding Zaporizkyi Raion (district) within the oblast. The city itself is directly subordinate to the oblast, and is located approximately 70 km from the city of Dnipropetrovsk.
Zaporizhia was formerly referred to as Aleksandrovsk (Russian: ÐлекÑандровÑк), after the commander of the first Russian Army, Prince Alexander Golitsyn, but was renamed in 1921 to Zaporizhia (literally, 'behind the cataracts', referring to the Dnieper cataracts near Khortytsia). It is currently the sixth largest city in the Ukraine and has a current estimated population of 900,000 (as of 2004).
Zaporizhia is an important industrial center of Ukraine, particularly a home for:
The city was very much an 'engineering city' during Soviet times, with all the consequences in terms of pollution that might be expected. The move to market economy since the independence of Ukraine has seen the demise of some of these concerns. This has improved the air quality. Although Zaporizhia is not regarded as a particularly attractive city, Dnieper River cruise ships make it one of their scheduled stops in order to visit Khortytsia Island.
Economy and transport IndustryAfter the end of the Russian Revolution, the city became an important industrial center. The presence of cheap labor and the proximity of deposits of coal, iron ore, and manganese created favorable conditions for large-scale enterprises of the iron and mechanical engineering industry. Today Zaporizhia is an important industrial centre of the region with heavy industry (particularly metallurgy), aluminium, and chemical industry. In the city cars, avia motors, radioelectronics are manufactured. The port of Zaporizhia is an important place of transshipment for goods from the Donbass. Zaporizhstal, Ukraine's fourth largest steel maker, ranks 54th in the world and is based in the city.
Electricity generationZaporizhia also has a big electricity generating complex fueled by industrial demand. The biggest nuclear power plant in Europe, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, as well as the Dnieper Hydroelectric Station are located near the city, in addition to fossil fuel power plants.
TransportPublic transport is provided by buses, tramway, river transport, and railway. The city's sole airport operates both domestic and international flight.
Sister citiesZaporizhia is currently twinned with:
