Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, Administrative region in Western Ukraine
Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast is an administrative region in western Ukraine that stretches from rolling plains to the forested slopes of the Carpathians. The landscape shifts from wide river valleys in the north to deep gorges in the south, where mountain peaks rise into the clouds.
The border of this administrative unit took shape after World War II, when the territory acquired its present form and passed into Soviet control. In the following decades, the name changed several times until the current designation was introduced in the late 20th century.
The name of this region reflects the Bystrytsia Nadwirnianska River, which flows through its main city that adopted the current designation in 1962. Residents often refer to their homeland simply as Prykarpattia, acknowledging its position at the foot of the range.
Travelers often use the regional capital as a base for excursions into the surrounding mountain villages and protected areas. Intercity buses connect smaller towns with each other, while hiking trails on the southern slopes can become impassable in winter.
In the south of this region lie many mineral springs that have been used for therapeutic purposes for centuries, giving rise to small spa towns. Some forested areas host rare plant species that thrive only on these damp mountain slopes and nowhere else in Europe.
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