Ternopil region was formed on January 4, 1939. It covers an area of 13,800 km² (2.3% of Ukraine), 17 districts are located here. Ternopil is its administrative centre. The total population of Ternopil region is 1,076,632. It borders with Rivne region, Lviv region, Ivano-Frankivsk region, Chernivtsi region and Khmelnytsky region.
The region unites three historic areas: Galicia, Podolia and Volyn. The third part of all Ukrainian castles are located in the territory of Ternopil region. Besides, numerous waterfalls and well-known caves are situated here. Ternopil region is also famous for the quantity and variety of churches.
Natural conditions create the borders of Ternopil region: two sides of it are washed by Zbruch and Dniester rivers, the third formed by Kremenets Mountains. Ternopil region is situated on the western part of the Podolian Upland, the eastern part of Ternopil is located on the hilly plains of the Small Polissya. The relief is plain. The absolute heights are varying from 443 m (Popelykha Mountain, near the village of Mechyshchiv, Berezhany district) to 116 m (where Zbruch flows into Dniester).
The climate of Ternopil region is temperate continental. Usually summer is not hot here, winter is mild. Precipitation occurs in sufficient quantaty (500-700 mm per year), its level is higher in summer. The snow cover lasts from the second half of December till the first half of March. The temperature can significantly vary in all seasons. Zalishchyky is a climate centre of the region.
Flora of Ternopil region is represented by 1100 species, most of them inhabit forests and steppes. The forests are mostly broad-leaved, they occupy 13.8% of the territory, the hornbeam trees predominate here. There are artificially-established forests (woodland parks, arboretums, squares etc.), many of them are sights of landscape architecture.
Fauna of Ternopil region is represented by more than 300 of vertebrates, forest and steppe species. Among them there are endangered species, in particular, golden eagle, black stork, osprey, forest boa are enlisted into the Red Book of Ukraine. Among the river fish there are: carp, crucian carp, perch, sheatfish, pike etc.
The hydrographic net of the region comprises 2400 rivers and steams. The largest river is Dniester (1362 km, 215 km within the region) that starts in the Carpathian Mountains and falls into the Black Sea, is a natural boundary between Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk and Khmelnytsky regions. Other major rivers are: Seret, Zbruch, Strypa, River of Koropec, Zolota Lypa River, Nichlava River, Dzhuryn River.
There are only few natural lakes on the territory of the region (there are small lakes near the village of Vikno Husiatyn and Ozeriany, Borshchiv district). Instead there are approximately 270 artificial ponds and reservoirs. Among the largest ponds there are: Zalizci (Zboriv district), Plotychansky, Horishnyo-Ivachivsky (Ternopil district) etc., reservoirs: Ternopil (Ternopil Pond), Kasperivske (Zalishchyky district), Skorodynske (Chortkiv district).
There are significant reserves of underground waters, including mineral waters, such as "Naftusia", Husiatyn, Velykyi Hlybochok Village, hydrogen sulfide water (Mykulyntsi, Konopkivka, Nastasiv, Mshanets, Ladachyn).