34 facts about Ukraine that will surprise you: from records to victories.

According to FREEДOM: Today, August 24, Ukraine celebrates the 34th anniversary of Independence. This holiday is filled with development, struggle, and achievements. Journalist from the FREEДОМ channel Valeriya Nekypelova collected 34 interesting facts that tell about the incredible history, culture, nature, and people of Ukraine, which recently amazed the audience.

The largest gypsum cave complex in the world is located in the Ternopil region. Its passages stretch over 260 kilometers, surpassing the distance from Brussels to Amsterdam or from Vienna to Budapest. The cave 'Optimistic' is famous for its intricate passages and stunning stalactites and helictites that attract thousands of tourists.

Fact 2. The longest residential complex in the world is located in Lutsk. Essentially, it's 40 buildings combined into one structure. Its total length is almost 3 kilometers, and about 10,000 residents live here.

The deepest metro station in Europe is 'Arsenalna' in Kyiv, which is located about 105 meters underground. To descend to such depth two escalators take about 5 minutes.

Fact 4. The largest sandy area in Europe is the Oleshky Sands, which is located in Ukraine. Here, on an area of over 175 thousand hectares, there are numerous dunes and mounds, some reaching up to 20 meters in height. This unique natural zone is located on the left bank of the Dnieper River in the Kherson region, but currently, the territory is temporarily occupied by the Russian army.

Fact 5. The 'Motherland' monument in Kyiv is the tallest monument in Europe, surpassing the height of world-famous sculptures such as 'Christ the Redeemer' in Brazil and the Statue of Liberty in the USA. In 2023, the Soviet symbols on the monument's shield were replaced with the Ukrainian trident.

Fact 6. There are 8 UNESCO World Heritage sites in Ukraine, including St. Sophia's Cathedral, Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, the historic center of Lviv, the ancient city of Chersonesus Tavriysky and its choir, the residence of the Metropolitan of Bukovina and Dalmatia, wooden churches of the Carpathians, beech forests of the Carpathians, as well as the historic center of Odesa.

The interesting facts about Ukraine revealed the largest, longest, and tallest structures and natural unique features of the country. The unusualness and diversity of Ukraine leave tourists and scholars in awe, and its own cultural historical heritage makes it truly an incredible country for study and exploration. Some structures and areas have already become famous worldwide, emphasizing the significance and beauty of Ukraine in a global context.