Dnipropetrovsk - Geography

Geography

The city is built mainly upon the banks of the Dnieper river, in the loop of a major meander where the river changes its course from the north west to continue southerly and later south-westerly through Ukraine, ultimately reaching Kherson where it flows into the Black Sea. This location always provided significant opportunities for the advancement of agriculture, mainly thanks to the natural irrigation provided by the river and the resulting fertile soils.

The area the city is built on is mainly devoid of hills and other geographical features. Being mainly flat, the land is easy to use, which explains why the city has been able to grow to such a great extent over the past 200 years. Whilst most residential, commercial, and industrial districts of the city are along the less marshy south bank of the river, some residential, commercial, and industrial areas have developed on the previously less-hospitable northern bank.

Nowadays both the north and south banks play home to a range of industrial enterprises and manufacturing plants. The city airport is located about 15 km (9.32 mi) south-easterly of the city.

The centre of the city is constructed on a large plateau next to the Dnieper, the old town however, is situated atop of a hill, formed as a result of the river's change of course to the south. Karla Marksa Prospekt links the two major architectural ensembles of the city and constitutes an important thoroughfare through the centre, which along with various suburban radial road systems, provides some of the area's most vital transport links for both suburban and inter-urban travel.