Svitlovodsk

Svitlovodsk () is a city in central Ukraine located on the Dnieper River in Oleksandriia Raion, Kirovohrad Oblast. The city hosts the administration of Svitlovodsk urban hromada, one of the hromadas of Ukraine. Its population is approximately .

In 1962–1969, the city carried the name Kremhes due to the fact that it is a city-satellite of Kremenchuk.

Administrative status

Until 18 July, 2020, Svitlovodsk was designated as a city of oblast significance and belonged to Svitlovodsk Municipality. It was the administrative center of Svitlovodsk Raion even though it did not belong to the raion. As part of the administrative reform of Ukraine, which reduced the number of raions of Kirovohrad Oblast to four, Svitlovodsk Municipality was merged into Oleksandriia Raion.

History

The city was developed and spread outward from the dam. The original point of the city was to house all of the dam workers and to be near the dam. Now most of the electricity is generated from the dam and is used in the town. The definite start of the city was the 1950s — before that, Svetlovodsk (literally - Bright Waterway) didn't exist, the name was invented by Khrushchev's regime, to replace the town of Novogeorgievsk that was in the flood plain of the new hydro-electric station.

When the dam was completed, the then Soviet leader Khrushchev attended the opening ceremonies, the city started to expand with all of the energy. It expanded westward along the coast and generally, the wester the city, the more recent it is. In local culture, the city is known as Old City and New City, but, of course it is still the same Svetlovodsk.
The reason for having such a power plant out in the middle of nowhere was simple: the power was needed for smelting of defense industry grade metals and alloys, the facility being "Secret" for many years, but is still operating today as a private enterprise.

Climate

Environment

The area around Svetlovodsk is relatively clean. The city itself has many plants and trees, the most noted is the rows of trees that go linear to Lenin Street. The city has itself been old and has some examples of old trees. The area around the city is relatively clean, mostly being small villages and forests.
The one noted polluting facility is the smelter. It's been operating for decades, without any pollution controls during the Soviet era, and with little control from the current Ukrainian government. Generations of people were exposed to heavy metals pollution, though no definite studies are known to exist.
The reservoir has been polluted for years, and in the summertime green algae takes over parts of it, producing fish-kills and introducing odors to the area.

Transportation

Transportation through the city is primarily through private-run bus lines with mini-buses, although the main buses still run. There is a working bus station near the east side of town. Near the dam is a bus depot with routes to many destinations. There is also a train that runs along the dam and goes to the village.

Highlights of the city

The townhall is in the "Old Svitlovodsk" area, the eternal fire memorial is just below near the airplane memorial.
The city is a birthplace of the Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and Ukrainian politician Mykola Martynenko.
The market is located in the "New Svitlovodsk, featuring lots of goods for buying and selling. There are two monuments near the market. Below them are a series of water fountains that go downward. There is a bus stop near the dam where buses depart to many locations, as well a train station.

See also

* List of cities in Ukraine

References

{{Authority control

Cities in Kirovohrad Oblast
Populated places established in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic
Cities of regional significance in Ukraine
City name changes in Ukraine
Populated places on the Dnieper in Ukraine
Company towns in Ukraine