L'vivs'ka oblast'
| L’vivs’ka oblast’ Львівська область 
| |
|---|---|
| capital | L’viv |
| established | 1939-12-04 |
| population total | 2,593,426 |
| area | 21,800 km˛ |
| raions cities city districts urban-type localities villages | 20 43 6 35 1,849 |
L'viv (Львівська область, L’vivs’ka oblast’ in Ukrainian, Lwow in Polish, Lemberg in German) is a region of western Ukraine, created on December 4, 1939. Its capital is the city of L'viv.
Before 1939 the area was part of Poland, with a large East Slavic population. Under the terms of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact it was allocated to the Soviet Union, and was annexed to the Ukrainian SSR. It remained there after World War II as was arranged during the conferences Teheran and Yalta. Thanks to its historical heritage today L'viv is one of the least Russified and Sovietized parts of Ukraine.
Previously, during the interbellum, the L'viv region was part of the Lwów Voivodship of the Second Republic of Poland. The regions historically dominant Ukrainian population declared the area to be a part of an independent Western Ukrainian Republic, which did not endure. Local autonomy was provided in international treaties but later on those were not honored by the Polish government and the area experienced much ethnic tensions between the Polish and Ukrainian population.
Prior to World War I, the area was part of the province of Halychyna (Galicia) of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Previous Governments included the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (circa 1400–1795), the independent Ukrainian state of Halych-Volynia (circa 1200–1400) and Kyivan Rus', preceded by Great Moravia. The Magyars and Poles also controlled the area for brief periods before 1400.
The region and its capital city take their time from the time of Halych-Volynia, when Danylo, the King of Rus' founded L'viv, naming the city after his son, Lev (Leo). During this time, the general region around L'viv was known as Red Ruthenia (Cherven' Rus')!
Cities and Towns
- L'viv
- Drohobych
- Chervonohrad
- Stryi
- Sambir
- Boryslav
- Khodoriv
Demographics
- Percentage of females: 52%
- Nationalities: 90% of region's population are Ukrainians; 200 thousand people are Russians; there are also German and Polish minorities.
Religion
56% of the religious organisations active in L'viv adhere to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
Local Historical and Cultural Sites
L'viv contains a well-preserved main square (Rynok) and numerous historical and beautiful churches. Other sites of interest are the historic Lychakivskiy Cemetery, the local museum of folklore, and the high castle ruins. There is also a museum of military artifacts, the "Arsenal".
Well-preserved local wooden churches can be found in the surrounding countryside, as can the Olesky Zamok (castle). A local museum of Ukrainian art and an institution of higher learning (Ivan Franko State University) are also present.
References
- Source for statistics used: L'viv Regional State Administration Web Site (http://www.loda.gov.ua/eng/region/) - accessed February 29, 2004.
External links
- L'viv Regional State Administration Web Site (http://www.loda.gov.ua/eng/region/)
- Symbols and flags (http://flagspot.net/flags/ua-lv.html)
| Subdivisions of Ukraine | 
| ||
|---|---|---|---|
| oblasts: | Cherkas'ka | Chernihivs'ka | Chernivets'ka | Dnipropetrovs'ka | Donets'ka | Ivano-Frankivs'ka | Kharkivs'ka | Khersons'ka | Khmel'nyts'ka | Kirovohrads'ka | Kyivs'ka | Luhans'ka | L'vivs'ka | Mykolayivs'ka | Odes'ka | Poltavs'ka | Rivnens'ka | Sums'ka | Ternopil's'ka | Vinnyts'ka | Volyns'ka | Zakarpats'ka | Zaporiz'ka | Zhytomyrs'ka | ||
| autonomous republic: | Crimea | ||
| cities with special status: | Kyiv | Sevastopol | ||
de:Oblast Lemberg es:L'viv (región) uk:Львівська область