Zolotuha is a hill on the left bank of the Sula valley near the village of Pustoviitivka, northeast of Romny. It rises 40 meters above the surroundings, and its summit is 110–120 meters above sea level. But the main point is not the height, but the origin: Zolotuha is a rare outcrop of a Devonian salt stock with gypsum and diabases. In 1937, the first oil deposit in the Ukrainian SSR was discovered here. The hill is a local geological reserve covering 16 hectares.
How the hill formed
Zolotuha formed above the Romny salt dome. In the fault zone of the earth’s crust, plastic salts were pushed up from a depth of about 5 km to the surface. Over the dome lie gypsum-bearing clays and loams. At a depth of 87–95 meters lie rock salt deposits, at 265–350 meters — oil and gas, and at 355–363 meters — potash salt. The hill is asymmetrical: the northern, western, and southern slopes are steep, while the eastern slope gradually transitions into the plain.
The first oil in Ukraine
It was at Zolotuha in 1937 that oil was first discovered in the Ukrainian SSR. Near the hill is a quarry where gypsum rocks outcrop on the surface.
Steppe on the salt dome
The slopes of Zolotuha are covered with steppe vegetation, and from the summit there is a wide view of the Sula valley. Zolotuha became a reserve in 1980.
How to get there
The hill is near the village of Pustoviitivka in Romny district, northeast of Romny. Travel by car. Nearby are the Ohnivshchyna park in Romny and the Sula.
What to keep in mind
Do not approach the quarry cliffs closely — the gypsum slopes are prone to collapse. Before traveling to Sumy region, check the security situation.
