IVANO-FRANKIVSK

Russian Ivano-frankovsk, formerly (194562) Stanislav, oblast (province), western Ukraine. It was formed in 1939 from territory annexed from Poland. The oblast lies on the northern flank of the Carpathian Mountains and extends from the crest line northward to the Dniester River to include a small area along the Dniester's left (north) bank. The oblast is one of the most densely settled parts of Ukraine. About two-thirds of the population are rural, being concentrated along the Dniester and in the mountain valleys. The oblast's arable land lies chiefly along the Dniester, where there is intensive cultivation of wheat, rye, corn (maize), sugar beets, flax, hemp, sunflowers, and tobacco. In the mountain valleys and on the high pastures, many cattle and sheep are kept, with pigs also raised in the lower regions. Industry in the oblast is based on the extraction of a wide range of minerals. There is moderate exploitation of petroleum (which is refined at Nadvirna), natural gas, and some lignite. Potassium sulfate mining at Kalush is of national significance and supplies fertilizers for agriculture. The potash deposits also support chemical works. Apart from the capital, Ivano-Frankivsk, the cities are mostly small local centres. Area 5,400 square miles (13,900 square km). Pop. (1991 est.) 1,451,500. Russian Ivano-frankovsk, formerly (until 1962) StanisLaww, or Stanislav city and administrative centre of Ivano-Frankivsk oblast (province), western Ukraine. It lies along the Bystritsa River just above its confluence with the Dniester River. Founded in 1661 as the Polish town of Stanislaww, it occupied an important position on the northern approach to the Yablonitsky Pass over the Carpathians. From 1772 to 1919 it was held by Austria; in 1945 it was ceded to the Soviet Union and named Stanislav; and in 1962 it was given its present name. The modern city has light-engineering, timber-working, furniture-making, and food-processing industries. There are medical and teacher-training institutes and schools for training in the oil and gas industries. Pop. (1993 est.) 234,000.