Small map titled Nikolaev et liman du Boug, from wood engraving with fine detail and clear impression. Overall size approx. 21.5 x 12 cm, image size approx. 13.5 x 7 cm. From La Nouvelle Géographie universelle, la terre et les hommes, 19 vol. (1875-94), great work of Elisee Reclus. Cartographer is Charles Perron.

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Mykolayiv

Russian Nikolayev, also spelled Nikolaev

city, southern Ukraine. The city lies along the estuary of the Southern (Pivdennyy) Buh River, about 40 miles (65 km) from the Black Sea. It was founded in 1788 as a naval base after the Russian annexation of the Black Sea coast, near the site of the ancient Greek Olbia. In 1862 a commercial harbour was opened, and in 1873 a railway was built to the port. It is now one of the most important Ukrainian Black Sea ports, serving the Kryvyy Rih area and extensive steppe grain lands. Mykolayiv is one of the largest shipbuilding centres of Ukraine. The city also has a wide range of other engineering and consumer-goods industries. An alumina-processing plant utilizing imported bauxite was built in the 1970s in the suburb of Zhovtneve. Mykolayiv is a modern city in appearance, laid out on a gridiron pattern of broad streets. Pop. (2001) 514,136; (2005 est.) 509,011.

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