Donetsk is a city in the Eastern part of Ukraine, an administrative centre of Donetsk area; it is located on the river Kalmius. Donetsk is the fifth city of Ukraine on the population and a large industrial centre.

The modern name given to the city in 1961, originate from the name of the river Severski Donets which flow in the northern part of Donetsk area (however the city is situated not on the river Severski Donets but on the river Kalmius). Till 1924 the city was named Juzovka in honor of the city founder - businessman John Juz (Hughes). In 1924 Juzovka has received the name Stalino because of the steel industry, city renaming formally was not connected with I. V. Stalin name. So, the city was named as Stalino till 1961. According to the words of the head of the press-service of Donetsk regional museum of local lore Sofia Aleksandrovna Gitis, in 1923 a city some months were called as Trotsk in honor of L.D.Trotsky.

Land development around Donetsk has been begun by Zaporozhye and also Don Cossacks in the XVII century. In 1869 building of the metal factory with a settlement for workers Juzovka begins Welshman John Juz. The date of building of the settlement time is considered the date of foundation of Donetsk. In 1917 the settlement Juzovka has received the status of a city. In 1932 the city became the centre of Donetsk area. In 1970 of UNESCO recognized Donetsk as the best industrial city of the world. In April, 1978 the population of Donetsk has exceeded one million inhabitants; however in 2006, because of the demographic crisis, was a little reduced.

Total area of Donetsk is about 996 square kilometers. Extent of the city from the north to the south is38 km. Extent from the east to the West is 55 km. Together with the nearby cities of Donetsk is a part of Donetsk agglomeration. The city is in the central part of Donbass to the south from the Donetsk range. Donetsk is located in a steppe zone, in riverheads of Kalmius and is surrounded by small forests, hills, rivers and lakes.
On distance of 95 km to the south from Donetsk there is the Azov Sea. In Donetsk there are 2 water basins - the Nizhnekalmiussky water basin (62+38 hectares, it is located on the river Kalmius) and the Donetsk Sea (138 hectares). Through the city 4 rivers flow: Kalmius, Bahmutka (Skoromoshina) (23 km), Asmolovka (Durnaya) (13 km), Cherepashkina. In Donetsk 125 waste banks are.

The mid-annual temperature in Donetsk region is +8,3 °C, but has a steady tendency to prompt increase: 2007 +10,3 °C, in 2008 +9,3 °C, in 2009 +9,8 °C, in 2010 +10.4 °C. Climate in Donetsk - is moderate-continental. An isotherm of January is 5 °C and July +21 °C. Northeast and east winds in the winter and northwest and western winds in the summer dominate. Precipitations are up to 556 mm a year.
Warm weather is established from the middle of April and keeps within 170-180 days. The period without frosts on the average is 190-200 days. In the summer in Donetsk high temperature of air is and drought and sharp changeable a wind.
The first colds appear in November, month windy, sometimes with frosts and snowfalls, but snow seldom lies more than two days. In a cold season the Asian anticyclone prevails. The climate is unstable, as the flat district promotes free moving of the Atlantic, Arctic and continental air mass, frosts are often replaced by thaw. Average temperature of air in the winter is from plus of five to a minus of five °С.

The climatic winter comes to the city approximately in the middle of December when average temperature of air it becomes steady below zero. The steady snow cover can lie down later. Winter is usually soft, with periodic thaw and cold snaps. The climatic winter in the city lasts approximately 80-90 days (from the middle of December till the end of February Last years, winter is about 50-60 days with thaw from 0C to +12C degrees.
The spring in the city comes early, as a rule, by the end of February - to the beginning of March. The snow cover can descend, nevertheless, long before this term. In the middle of March there are first flowers, by the end of March - to the beginning of April night frosts disappear, and to the middle of April active growth of trees begins.
The summer begins in the city soon after arrival of May. Usually the summer in a city is characteristic differs very hot, dry weather, precipitations drop usually in the form of intensive and powerful thunder-storms. The maximum temperature in the city is nearby +42 °C 2010, and the heat above 30 °C is possible from April till October. The summer lasts approximately till the end of September - the beginnings of October (130-140 days).
September is still summer month. October and November are characteristic small quantity of solar light, and are the darkest months of the year. It is connected not only with low position of the Sun over horizon, but also almost without an exception cloudy weather. It is connected with high intensity of the western winds bearing moisture from the Atlantic Ocean. The first frosts happen in the end of October, the first snow can be in the beginning of November though more than one seldom lies - two days. The foliage from trees completely falls down to the middle - to the end of November.

The city is divided into 9 administrative areas: Budyonnovsky area, Voroshilovsky area, Kalininsky area, Kievskii area, Kirovskii area, Kuibyshevskii area, Leninskii area, Petrovsky area, Proletarskii area. The general extent of the city streets is 2 500 km. Quantity of streets, parkways, prospectuses in Donetsk - 2 200. The main street of Donetsk is Artyoma Street. The longest street is Kirova street - 19,6 km.

The city symbols have been confirmed on September, 27th, 2004 by the decision № 13/5 of the Donetsk city councils. The coat arms of Donetsk and the flag of Donetsk affirmed as the decision.

The coat of arms pentagonal board is divided horizontally. The top part is azure, bottom - black. On the board a golden right hand is painted on the bottom edge; this hand holds a gold mountain hammer. In the top right corner the gold five-pointed star is located. On the big coat of arms of Donetsk as holders of the board figures of the monument "Liberators of Donbass» are used: at the left - the miner against a gold laurel branch; on the right - the soldier against an oak branch. Both figures are silver. The composition is twined by a black-blue tape. From above a board the gold crown with five turrets on which figures "1869" - year of the basis of a city are written is located. From below the board is framed by two gold branches of rose put crosswise between which on a red moire tape by gold letters it is written "Donetsk".

Flag of Donetsk is a rectangular panel: 1,2 width to 1,5 lengths. The flag is horizontally divided on two equal parts. The top field - azure, bottom - black. In the centre the area not less than 0,32 parts of the area of the whole flag puts the gold image of the coat of arms of Donetsk. The azure field of the coat of arms is located on the azure half of flag, and black – on the black one.

According to census of the population in Donetsk area, in Donetsk the population total in 2009, the registered inhabitants and not registered inhabitants, is 1 155 226 persons – Russian (493392; 48,2%), Ukrainians (478041; 46,7%), Byelorussians (11098; 1,1%), Greeks (11015; 1,1%), Jews (5087, 0,50%), Tatars (4987; 0,50%), Armenians (4050, 0,40%), Azerbaijanis (2098; 0,20%), Georgians (2073; 0,20%), others (13001, 1,27%).

There are 5 state universities, 11 institutes, 3 academies, including Donetsk musical academy, 14 technical schools, and also 5 private universities, 6 colleges in total in Donetsk. Among them the oldest and largest educational institutions are Donetsk national technical university (1921), Donetsk national medical university (1930), Donetsk national university (1937), Donetsk national university of economy and trade of M.I.Tugan-Baranovsky.

Donetsk occupies the 2 place on industrial outputs (after Mariupol) and the 1 place on rates of increase. In the city territory one of the largest in Ukraine on volumes of investments of free economic zones “Donetsk" is located. Along with the city Makeyevka, Donetsk was the industrial knot largest in Ukraine. Characteristic feature of the economic complex of Donetsk is the diversified specialization of the industry combined with the developed transport and financial economy of the city. Almost all branches of the national economy are presented to the industries; however, metallurgy, coal, chemical industries and heavy mechanical engineering are presented mostly. Along with traditional branches of the heavy industry last years develop also light, food, woodworking industry, mechanical engineering.
The economic potential of the city is represented by 193 industrial enterprises, 357 enterprises carrying out foreign trade activities, 383 building organizations, 1550 objects of consumer services, more than 13 thousand enterprises of small and middle business.

Donetsk is the large sports centre. There took place the championships of the USSR on tennis, track and field athletics, and boxing. Also in Donetsk large international competitions took place: meetings of the Davis Cup, the UEFA Champions League. In September, 2008 in the Kirovskii district of the city the Ice Palace of Sports has been opened.
There are officially registered 254 monuments of a cultural heritage in Donetsk. In the city 11 cinemas, 53 Palace of culture and club, 140 museums and museum rooms, 368 libraries with fund over 15 522 662 books, 16 initial specialized educational institutions of arts are located. In 2009 Donetsk has returned itself the status of city in which on each inhabitant is a rose. In the city 1 014 000 roses are planted. On August, 30th, 2008 in city centre of Donetsk in the square "Sokol" digital "Planetarium" has been opened. In park of Shcherbakova the aqua-park “Royal Marine” is.

Donetsk is a very green city, here a considerable quantity of beautiful parks, squares, parkways. The botanical garden is all year long open. Many of them belong to the enterprises. The Special place occupies park of forged figures where the European competition of smiths is annually held. In 2009 reconstruction of quay of the river Kalmius has been ended.

In the city orthodox and Greco-catholic churches, Protestant houses of worship and Catholic churches, mosques and synagogues are located. Cult constructions of Orthodox Church (Mainly Moscow patriarchy) are most widely presented