The river's source is on the western slopes of the Central Russian Upland north of Belgorod. Within Ukraine it flows through the Dnieper Lowland, passing through Sumy Oblast, and then crossing Poltava Oblast. It has a length of 464 kilometres (288 mi), and a basin area of 14,700 square kilometres (5,700 sq mi).[1] The river is the 15th longest in Ukraine stretching for 348 kilometres (216 mi).
An ancient fort, thought to be Gelonos, is on the Vorskla south of Okhtyrka. In 1399, the Battle of the Vorskla River was fought in the area. In 1709, the city of Poltava was besieged by Charles XII.
Flora and fauna
In the river there are more than 50 species of fish, most of which are carps and pikes, breams, rudds, roaches, minnows, catfish.
Fauna is represented by hares, foxes, in the woods you can meet roe deer and wild boar, a great variety of birds: wild duck, gray heron, partridge, pheasant.
Along the banks of the river there are large wooded areas, as coniferous (mostly on the left bank) and deciduous forests.