A riverside port on the Dnieper, with 18th-century landmarks and ancient Greek ruins at Khersones Tavrichesky. Sandy beaches and local nightlife add to the city's character.
Kherson, a port city in southern Ukraine, lies along the Dnieper River near the Black Sea. Walk through St. Catherine's Cathedral from the 1780s, see Konstantin Makovsky's masterpieces at the Kherson Art Museum, or take a day trip to swim in the pink waters of Lake Lemuria. The city's two major ports and shipbuilding yards keep its maritime traditions alive, while nearby Oleshky Sands let you experience Europe's largest desert landscape outside the Arctic.
Maritime Industry and Transportation
Two major harbors - the Port of Kherson and Kherson River Port - anchor the city's maritime sector. Local shipyards have built and repaired vessels since the 19th century, continuing this tradition today. You can reach the city through Kherson International Airport, which has a 2,500-meter runway for Boeing 737s and Airbus 320s, though recent events have impacted flight schedules.
Art and Cultural Sites
The Kherson Art Museum houses Ukrainian and Russian paintings, including Konstantin Makovsky's 1883 "Portrait of a Woman" and Ivan Aivazovsky's "The Tempest is Coming." Inside St. Catherine's Cathedral, built in the 1780s by architect Ivan Starov, you can see late 18th-century architectural details and visit the tomb of Prince Grigory Potemkin.
Engineering Landmarks
The 1911 Adziogol Lighthouse stands as an example of Vladimir Shukhov's hyperboloid design - its mathematical curve-based structure was revolutionary for early 20th-century engineering. From the Kherson TV Tower, radio and television signals reach across the region. Both structures remain active parts of the city's infrastructure.
Natural Surroundings
Drive to the Oleshky Sands near Radensk to walk through rolling dunes in Europe's largest desert outside the Arctic. Swim in Lake Lemuria's pink waters or apply its mineral-rich mud, known locally for therapeutic effects. At the Askania-Nova reserve, you can observe native steppe animals and walk among rare plant species.
Education and Research
Kherson's academic community spans 15 higher education institutions. Students at the Kherson State Maritime Academy learn naval operations and maritime engineering. Kherson State University teaches liberal arts and sciences, while the State Agrarian and Economic University conducts agricultural research. The city also maintains 77 high schools and 5 colleges.
