Zhytomir is a historic city in the North of the western half of Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Zhytomir Oblast (province), as well as the administrative center of the surrounding Zhytomir Rayon (district). Note that the city of Zhytomir is not a part of the Zhytomir rayon: the city itself is designated as its own separate rayon within the oblast; moreover Zhytomir consists of two so-called "rayons in a city": the Bohunsky rayon and the Korolyovsky rayon (named in honor of Sergey Korolyov). The current estimated population is 277,900 (as of 2005). Zhytomir lies in a unique natural setting; all sides of the city are surrounded by ancient forests through which flow the Teteriv, Kamyanka, Yaroshenka and Putiatynka rivers. The Teteriv river bounds Zhytomir at the south (though, precisely speaking, there are also some small areas of Zhytomir city territory at the southern bank of the river). The city is rich in parks and public squares.