UNIT 5. TIME FOR DISCOVERY » Стр.223 (2)

Kharkiv is my native city. Kharkiv is the second largest city and the capital of Kharkiv region. It is on the banks of the Lopan, Udy and Kharkiv rivers. It is the historic capital of Slobidska Ukraine. It is an important industrial, communications, scientific and cultural centre Kharkiv’s name is most likely derived from the Kharkiv River. The Russian historian N. Aristov believed it was derived from the Cuman settlement of Sharukan, which existed on the territory of the present-day city. According to popular legend, the city is named after a Cossack Kharko. There are many famous people who visited Kharkiv and lived there like writers Kvitka-Osnovyanenko, Skovoroda, Khvyljovy and others. Today there are over 2500 streets and 26 squares in the city. There are 110 parks, the largest being Gorky Park, Shevchenko Garden with a zoo, Artem Park, the Forest Park, and some others. There are about 200 secondary schools and 40 post-secondary institutions, about 150 research and planning institutes. The city’s prominent scholarly institutions are the Kharkiv Astronomical Observatory, Mathematical Society, Scientific Library, Historical, Art and the Natural science Museums. The city supports a circus and six professional theatres. The public enjoys the use of 23 cinemas, 250 libraries, a sports palace, water sports palate and some parks of culture and recreation. Kharkiv is famous for its centre square Svoboda Square. It is one of the largest in Europe.