Do you know, that Khortitsa Island, which is situated in the big industrial city Zaporozhya, is considered to be one of the Ukrainian wonders?
In the river Dnieper there is not the island equal to Khortitsa in size (it’s the greatest width is 2,5 km, length is 12,5 km), neither of beauty or the value of natural and historic monuments. The name of the island is associated with the Horse – the Sun God of Slavs, and the Turkic “ort” – middle, located in the middle. On this island you can see almost all landscapes of Ukraine, from steppe to the mountain ridges. Ancient people populated this beautiful mountainous island even in the prehistoric era. The first capital of the Cossacks – Khortitskaya Sich was located in the island.
The flora of the island has about 1092 species, among them 33 species are very rare. The fauna includes 30 species of animals and 130 species of birds. Today the island, which has 64 monuments of the archaeology and history, is the National Reserve Khortitsa.
So, let’s find out what exactly we can see at the island Khortitsa?
Sanctuaries of Bronze age
Khortitsa was one of the most important religious centers for of the steppe south. Archeologists found the sanctuaries dated on the age of Bronze Age. One of the sanctuaries is the temple in the open sky.
Museum of Zaporozhye Cossack history
The Khortitsa Island history is connected with Zaporozhye Cossacks. It is well known, that Cossacks, the “free people” and defenders of Ukraine, placed their capitals – Siches behind the rapids (mainly on the islands). The museum has more than 33 thousand of articles, covering the period of history from the Paleolithic to the 20th century.
Historical and cultural centre “Zaporozhskaya Sech”
The original ethnographic museum under the open sky is the image of Sich-town capital. It is the typical Cossacks fortification with strong gates, watch-towers, barracks, a tavern, Sich church, potter workshop and other household buildings.
Scythian Stan
Memorial and tourist complex “Scythian Stan” is located in the South part of the island around its highest point – Zorova grave. The most famous royal burial-moulds of the Scythians were discovered on the territory of Zaporozhye region. There were more than 130 burial-mounds of different ages on Khortitsa. On the territory of complex there are several reconstructed Scythian burial moulds, the Cossack post with the observation tower, museum of the stone monuments and products.
Stone Phenomenon
Specific stone sculptures are located in the different museum expositions of Khortitsa. These stone sculptures were places on the moulds and were called as “blocks”. “mamays”, “stone idol” and “stone baba”.
Museum of the Dnieper navigation
During the Russian-Turkish war (1735-1739), about four hundred of ships of the Dnieper fleet were based near Khortitsa Island. Two ships, raised from the bottom, had become the first exhibits – the Cossack boat “seagull” type and military sail-rowing ship.
Memorial-tourist complex “Protolche”
The latest researches defined “Protolche” as the Dnieper ford as well as a wharf of Khortitsa Island or an old Russian settlement. Nowadays you can discover not only the amazing nature, but also the memorial-tourist complex.
Khortitsa plavni (marshes)
Plavni is the specific type of landscape consisting of aquatic vegetation to flow particularly overgrown, islands, covered with woody vegetation, lakes and marshes. The green-blue miracle Khortitsa is the reminder of the county of plavni, known as the Great Zaporozhsky Meadow. This place has the amazing views and wild birds.
Horse theatre
The territory of the famous horse theatre adjacent to the plavni. Here the descendants of Zaporozhian Cossacks demonstrate the horsemanship, daring tricks on the horses and Cossack’s amusements. The theatrical performance shows the exciting amusements and pastime of Cossacks and always has a lot of visitors.
So as you see, Khortitsa is not only the amazing place with gorgeous nature, but a historical monument with a lot of things to discover. By the way, Khortitsa can be the best place to go on a first date with your Russian lady! To get to Khortitsa you need to come to Zaporozhye and take a bus or a taxi to the island.
