The Dnipro River is the most vital waterway in Kyiv and Ukraine, ranking as the fourth longest river in Europe. Since ancient times, the Dnipro has served not only as a source of drinking water for the people of Kyiv but also as a major trade route—part of the renowned path "from the Varangians to the Greeks." Along its banks, more than two thousand years ago, the powerful medieval state of Kyivan Rus began to take shape. The Dnipro has been celebrated in folk epics, immortalized by poets and writers, and depicted in the stunning works of artists. Historically, the river has been known by four names: Borysfen, Danapris, Slavutych, and Dnipro. Its first description dates back to the 5th century BC, when Herodotus enthusiastically referred to it as "the second most important river in the world after the Nile."  

 Currently, nearly two-thirds of the people in Ukraine reside in areas surrounding the Dnipro. In the 1950s, a modern port was established on the right bank in Kyiv, accommodating both passenger and cargo vessels. Since 1964, with the commissioning of the Kyiv Hydro Power Plant, the Dnipro has played a crucial role in the energy supply for the city and the surrounding region. The area of sandy beaches along the Dnipro in Kyiv is more extensive than that of any other European capital. Among the most famous and popular beaches are Central, Venice, Youth, Children's, Peredmostova Slobidka, and Golden. Interestingly, the history of leisure on Kyiv's beaches is relatively recent; it was first appreciated by German military personnel during the summer of 1918, when Germany briefly allied with the Ukrainian state.