Tuesday, March 24, 2020

2020 Travel the World - Week 12


I started a Travel the World Series last year. (It should be noted that I did a similar thing in 2018, only it was the 50 states.) For 50 weeks in 2019, I visited a different country (virtually) and shared facts about that country. I then selected one tidbit of information about that week's country as inspiration for a card. Fifty weeks; fifty countries... BUT there are 195 countries in the world so that was just a little over 25% of them. Of course I couldn't stop, so this year I'm continuing with fifty more countries, one per week.


This week's country is...



Ukraine


Ukraine is bordered by Belarus to the north, Russia to the east, the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea to the south, Moldova and Romania to the southwest, and Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland to the west. In the far southeast, Ukraine is separated from Russia by the Kerch Strait, which connects the Sea of Azov to the Black Sea.

A common misconception is that the name of the country is "The Ukraine," but it is just "Ukraine." In 1993, the Ukrainian government formally requested that the country be called simply Ukraine.

Until 1990, Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. After Russia, it was the second largest country in the Union.

Ukraine is slightly smaller than the state of Texas.

Ukraine is home of 5,000 castles. Unfortunately many of them are in ruins.

Ukraine has the world's second deepest subway station.

There are only 86.3 men for every 100 women in Ukraine. This is the sixth-lowest men-to-women ratio in the world.


The Black Sea, home to Ukraine’s only coastline, is popular with holiday-makers. The massive lake lacks a tide and the water level never changes.

Ukraine is the 4th educated nation in the world. 99.4% literacy in Ukrainians aged 15 and over. 70% of adult Ukrainians have secondary or higher education. The country has about 150 colleges and universities and 80 research institutes.

The country was once known as the breadbasket of Europe, owing to its large agricultural industry.


Kiev was the birthplace of the world’s biggest plane, the Antonov An-225 Mriya. It has the largest wingspan of any aircraft, at 88.4 metres and weighs 640,000kg. A brainwave of the Soviet Union, only one was ever made.

A large percentage of Ukrainians, nearly 80%, have never travelled abroad.

Unlike many cultures around the world, Ukrainians wear wedding rings on the right hand not the left.

In 1986, Ukraine witnessed the world’s worst nuclear power plant disaster. The tragedy occurred at the Chernobyl plant located in the northern part of the country. The area has since been declared an exclusion zone. The disaster and declaration led to the emergence of several ghost towns. 


Ukrainians are pretty big on easter eggs. Less so, stuffing their faces with low-quality chocolate: they favour more intricate designs using wax on ornaments known as pysankas. Different regions of the country have different styles and methods of decoration. 

Lviv, Ukraine is home to the highest number of cafes per capita in the world. It boasts up to 1,500 establishments.

The third most visited McDonald’s in the world is located in Kiev, the Ukranian capital city, near the train station, and considered to be in the top five most crowded McDonald’s in the world.

Ukraine features the deepest metro station in the world, which was built in 1960.


The world’s longest musical instrument also originates from Ukraine. The pipe piece is aptly named Trembita.

“O Sole Mio” the world-famous song was composed in the country.


Although Ukrainians are hospitable, they seldom smile in public.

Roughly one out of every five Ukrainians died during WWII, meaning 7 million.

I decided to let this Ukraine fact be the inspiration for this week's card... Ukraine has one of the largest armies in Europe.




Thanks for stopping by my blog today!


Stamp Set: There She Goes Boot Camp stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Recollections CS and DP from my scrap file

Due: MFT Wonky Stitch Rectangle

Embellishments: Eyelet Outlet Enamel Dots

3 comments:

kiwimeskreations said...

Another anthology of fabulous facts Jeanette -I am so enjoying these posts! Love your card - the Kraft base is perfect for the boots!
Stay safe
Blessings
Maxine

Lynn McAuley said...

Your wonderful card brings to mind the men and women of our National Guard who are stepping forward during this time of uncertainty. God bless and keep them safe!!

JD/ Jill said...

Thank you for sharing this. It's difficult to image how many of the things you have written above may have changed with the way things are today, as I am reading this two years later...