Chernihiv

Chernihiv (Чернігів) Chernigov (Чернигов)
City
From top, left to right: Trinity Monastery, Catherine's Church, fortress guns on the Val, Krasna square, Hotel "Desna" building, and view of ancient Chernihiv with Transfiguration, Borys and Hlib Cathedrals and Chernihiv Collegium
Flag Coat of arms Logo
Nickname(s): City of Legends
Chernihiv (Чернігів) Chernigov (Чернигов) Location of Chernihiv in Ukraine
Coordinates: 51°30′0″N 31°18′0″E / 51.50000°N 31.30000°E / 51.50000; 31.30000Coordinates: 51°30′0″N 31°18′0″E / 51.50000°N 31.30000°E / 51.50000; 31.30000
Country	Ukraine
Oblast	Chernihiv Oblast
Municipality	Chernihiv municipality
Founded	907
City Status	907
Government
• Mayor	Vladyslav Atroshenko (Petro Poroshenko Bloc "Solidarity")
Area
• Total	79 km2 (31 sq mi)
Elevation	136 m (446 ft)
Population (2015)
• Total	294,727
• Density	1,547/km2 (4,010/sq mi)
Postal code	14000
Area code(s)	(+380) 462
Vehicle registration	CB / 25
Website	chernigiv-rada.gov.ua

Chernihiv (Ukrainian: Чернігів Ukrainian pronunciation: [t͡ʃɛrˈnʲiɦiw]) also known as Chernigov (Russian: Черни́гов; IPA: [tɕɪrˈnʲiɡəf], Polish: Czernihów), a historic city in northern Ukraine, serves as the administrative center of the Chernihiv Oblast (province), as well as of the surrounding Chernihiv Raion (district) within the oblast. Administratively, it is incorporated as a city of oblast significance. Population: 294,727 (2015 est.)

Chernihiv stands on the Desna River to the north-north-east of Kiev.

Chernihiv was first mentioned in the Rus'-Byzantine Treaty (907) (as Черниговъ (Chernigov)), but the time of establishment is not known. According to the items uncovered by archaeological excavations of a settlement which included artifacts from the Khazar Khaganate, it seems to have existed at least in the 9th century. Towards the end of the 10th century, the city probably had its own rulers. It was there that the Black Grave, one of the largest and earliest royal mounds in Eastern Europe, was excavated in the 19th century.