ФИТР БНТУ – Портал Студентов

About Belarus

The Republic of Belarus is a new independent state that has been formed as a result of the dissolution of the USSR. There are a few variants of the origin of the name "Belarus". Here are two of them: Firstly, the white flax clothes of the ancient villagers, their fair hair and the whiteness of their skin. Secondly, when our ancient Slav lands were invaded by Tatars and Mongols, that part of Russia was clear of the invasion and remained "white".

Belarus occupies 207.600 square km. It stretches for 560 km from north to south and 650 km from east to west. It borders on the Ukraine, Russia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. So, it’s advantageously situated at the crossroads from Western Europe to the East. Such favour­able situation has always attracted the enemy. There was not a single war in Eastern Europe that has missed Belarus.

The population of Belarus constitutes about 10 million people. Representatives of more than 160 nationalities live here. Significant numbers of Russians, Poles and Ukrainians live in the Republic along with Belarusians.

The relief of Belarus is predominantly low hilly land with the average height of 160 m over the sea level. The flatland nature creates favourable conditions for the expansion of hu­man settlements, agricultural development of the territory, construction of industries. Agri­cultural lands occupy 45% of the Republic’s territory. Forests account for 36%. About 30 kinds of mineral raw materials can be found in Belarus. The most significant are potassium salts the reserves of which occupy one of the leading places in Europe. The country is rich in rock products, such as granites, dolomites, chalk, clay, sand and gravel.

The climate of Belarus is moderately continental with mild and humid winter, warm summer and wet autumn. The climatic conditions are favourable for growing stable grain crops, vegetables, especially for cultivating potatoes, flax, annual grass and fodder root crops.

There are more than 20.000 rivers and streams in Belarus and about 11.000 lakes. Naroch is the largest lake in the country. The rivers Pripyat, Dnieper, Neman, Zapadnaya Dvina are important for river navigation.

The capital of Belarus is Minsk. The contemporary Minsk occupies an ideal central po­sition. It is considered to be one of the most attractive and important cities. One of the chief glories of Minsk is the Trinity Suburb, a delight for every visitor. It’s beautiful in all seasons of the year. Its narrow streets and small beautiful houses remind us of the past. The center of the present-day Minsk has become Independence Square, framed by a variety of outstanding buildings of modern architecture.

Minsk is full of parks and is surrounded by a countryside of great natural beauty. Its parks and the Botanic Garden are real attractions of the city. The river Svislotch runs through the city center and divides it into 2 parts.

Minsk is the country’s center of science and culture. A great number of research insti­tutes, design and engineering institutions and the National Academy of Sciences function here. Republic’s specialists are trained at more than 20 higher educational institutions. Minsk today is the capital of an independent state, which means that broad possibilities for develop­ment are open before the city. Minsk is growing and prospering. Life in the capital is acquir­ing new qualities and is changing with every passing year.