Sevastopol, also written as Sebastopol, is the largest city in Crimea and serves as a major port on the Black Sea. Located in Ukraine, the city covers a total administrative area of 864 square kilometres (334 sq mi), which includes a significant amount of rural land.
The city has served as an important port and naval base throughout its history due to its strategic location and navigable harbors. Since its founding in 1783, it has functioned as a major base for Russia's Black Sea Fleet. During the Cold War of the 20th century, Sevastopol was designated as a closed city.
The total population of the region is 547,820, with an urban population of 479,394 largely concentrated around Sevastopol Bay.