Oleshia Sands

Oleshia Sands [Олешівські піски; Olešivs'ki pisky]. A sandy region on the left bank of the lower Dnipro River south of Kherson, extending roughly from Kakhovka in the east to the Kinburn Spit in the west. Once the delta of the Dnipro, the area takes its name from its proximity to the town of Oleshky (now Tsiurupynsk). The sandy soil was formed by alluvial deposits. The region is covered with sand dunes 8–15 m in height and small saltwater lakes and bogs (but no rivers). The surface vegetation of the sands is generally poor, and attempts to seed Crimean pines and other trees in the area have generally had disappointing results. Grape growing and fruit farming have met with greater success.

[This article originally appeared in the Encyclopedia of Ukraine, vol. 3 (1993).]