Vashchenko V. V., Head of Geological-Surveying Unit, phone:+380 (322) 37-27-84, Turchinov I. I., Geologist of the I Category, Lviv Geological Survey Expedition of “Zapadukrgeologiya” Company, “Nedra Ukrainy” Company

The most remarkable natural geological monuments and places, maximally suitable as place for relaxation and tourism are shown corresponding to location of general part of Western Ukraine territory in regional geological structure, for its each component, such as margin of the East European Platform, Carpathian basin, Infolded Carpathians, Transcarpathian basin. Several of them are unique in global scale. The main attraction of the Transnistrian Podolia in the southwestern outskirts of the East European platform, of course, is the Dniester River — the most scenic section of the valley of the Dniester between the mouths of its left tributaries — the rivers Zolotoy (Golden) Linden and Zbruch between the ancient and historic cities Galich and Hotin. The main decoration of Nyrkovsky Canyon is scenic waterfall, near which the ruins of the palace of Lubomirska comtess (XIX century) are located. It has two majestic towers that are planned to be restored. The real treasure of Podolsky region are plasterboard caves: Optimistic (total length of all the passages 243 kilometers), Lake (125 kilometers), Mlynki (25 kilometers), Crystal (23 kilometers), Slavka (9 kilometers), Verteba (7.8 kilometers). In the northeastern outskirts of Podlamen village of Brody district (Lviv region), on top of small hill stands Giant Stone — lonely picturesque rock-cliff, 20 m high (its age is 11 million years). The main geological monuments and the Outer Carpathians and Ciscarpathians are concentrated in the basin of the main waterway of this region — river Prut. It originates from the northern slope of the highest (2061 meters) peak of Ukraine — Hoverla mountain. On the right side of the Prut River valley, sandstones form a cluster of rocky outcrops of erosion. The most impressive is Uritsky rock. There are remains of walls and building structures, which, according to archaeologists, are the remains of an ancient Russian Tustan fortress (XI–XIII centuries). The above geological sites are only a small particle of natural wealth of the Western Ukraine.

1. Geologicheskie pamyatniki Ukrainy. Pod. red. Kalinin V. I., Gurs'kogo D. S., Antakovoy I. V. (Geological Monuments of Ukraine. Edited by Kalinin V. I., Gurs'koy D. S., Antakova I. V.). Kiev, 2006, Vol. 1