Kirovsk, Ukraine
Kirovsk (Ukrainian: Кіровськ) is a city in Luhansk Oblast (province) of Ukraine. Population is 35,199 (2001).
Kirovsk was founded in 1764. Its history follows closely the history of industrial development in the Eastern Ukraine. The town grew when coal mines were set up in the area; reaching its peak size in the 1980s. The landscape around the town still has pyramid-shaped manmade hills, they are the by-products of the coal mine development and make the area look somewhat surreal. The best time to visit Kirovsk is August; a few national and local holiday celebrations take place during this month, such as the Independence Day and the Coal Miner Day. During the holidays the nightlife is booming; there are live concerts performed by regional, sometimes national, artists on the town stadium with lots of festivities in the town park afterwards. A lot of friends and families come to visit at this time so that town's population grows noticeably during the holidays. Popular outdoor activities are hunting in the prairies surrounding Kirovsk and fishing on the nearby lakes. Local terrain is very hilly and has lots of roads and paths that makes it perfect for mountain biking. The area has a few historic sites that include beautiful churches, a museum and a WWII memorial. Town swimming pool is popular among locals and has a gym. Most popular nightlife destinations are the small cafes and the discothèque in the town park that are open only during the summer.
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Coordinates: 48°38′N 38°39′E / 48.633°N 38.650°E