International Dnipro Day

The Day of the country's main waterway was established in 2002 during the International Dnipro Forum of environmental NGOs from Ukraine, Belarus and Orkestan. Unfortunately, the Dnipro Day has not yet gained official status. Events dedicated to the preservation of the Dnipro River are celebrated by local activists and communities. The main goal of this holiday is to draw public attention to the current problems that this river faces. These are, first of all, water pollution by industrial wastewater and agricultural chemicals, and household waste. These pollute not only the water but also the banks of the great river. There is also the destruction of the protected coastal zone as a result of violations of development rules. Pollution also causes the gradual extinction of flora and fauna in the Dnipro.

This environmental date is intended to draw public attention to the problems associated with the rational use, protection and reproduction of water resources of the main waterway of Ukraine.

The earliest written information about the Dnipro was left by the Greek historian and geographer Herodotus in the fourth book of his history, Melpomene (485-425 BC): Borysfen is the name he gave to the Dnipro. The Dnipro is the largest river in Ukraine. The total length of the Dnipro River is 2201 km, 981 km within Ukraine. The basin area is 504 thousand km², of which 291.4 thousand km² is within Ukraine. But it was known long before the formation of state and even before the formation of Kyivan Rus. In addition to the Slavs, representatives of the Trypillian civilization, Scythians, Sarmatians, and Greeks founded their settlements on its banks. The modern name of the Dnipro River has its roots in Iranian, which means "deep river."