Ostriv Velykyi Potomkin
Ostriv Velykyi Potomkin (; ), also known as Potemkin Island, is a river island located within the Dnipro river in the Kherson urban hromada of Kherson Raion of Kherson oblast of Ukraine. Geography Ostriv Velykyi Potomkin is located within the Dnipro River as a river island. Two small lakes known as Lake Zakitne and Lake Nazarove-Pohorile are contained within the island. The island is divided into two parts by the Strait of Pudov (), which flows through its center. The total land area of the island is approximately 25 square kilometers, located around 5 kilometers to the south of Kherson city and 2 kilometers to the north of the town of Hola Prystan. History Being located along the historic route from the Varangians to the Greeks, Ostriv Velykyi Potomkin had strategic significance for the Kyivan Rus', who established settlements on it and used it as their primary Black Sea port. Some historians believe that the historical city of was located on the island, whereas others believe it was closer to modern Oleshky. Regardless of which view is correct, archaeological excavations have found evidence of the island's settlement during the period of the Kyivan Rus'. According to the Institute of Archaeology