Belarus: A Compact State Or Not?

Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Belarus is a medium-sized European state, spanning an area of 207,600 square kilometres (80,200 sq mi) with a population of 9.1 million. The country has a hemiboreal climate and is divided into six regions. Minsk, the capital and largest city, is administered separately as a city with special status. Belarus is a compact country with a slightly longer horizontal axis, stretching 560km from north to south, and 650km from west to east.

Belarus is landlocked

Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Belarus is a medium-sized country, spanning an area of 207,600 square kilometres (80,200 sq mi) with a population of 9.1 million. Minsk, the capital and largest city, is home to about one-fifth of the population.

Belarus has a predominantly flat terrain intersected by hills, flatlands, and lowlands with marshes and lakes. The country has more than 20,000 streams and almost 11,000 lakes. The biggest rivers are the Dnieper, the Western Dvina, and the Neman. The Dnieper is the country's longest river, stretching 689 kilometres through Belarusian territory.

The natural vegetation of Belarus is mixed deciduous and coniferous forest. Birch is common, especially as the first growth on burned or disturbed areas. The Belovezhskaya Forest, on the border with Poland, is one of the largest surviving areas of primeval mixed forest in Europe. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1992.

Belarus has a cool, continental climate moderated by maritime influences from the Atlantic Ocean. Average January temperatures range from the mid-20s F (-4°C) in the southwest to the upper teens F (-8°C) in the northeast. Maximum temperatures in July are generally in the mid-60s F (about 18°C). Rainfall is moderate and ranges from about 21 inches on the lowlands to around 28 inches on the higher morainic ridges.

It is located in Eastern Europe

Belarus is located in Eastern Europe. It is a landlocked country, bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Belarus is a medium-sized European state, spanning an area of 207,600 square kilometres (80,200 sq mi) with a population of 9.1 million. Minsk, the capital and largest city, is located in the centre of the country and is home to around one-fifth of the country's population.

Belarus has a predominantly flat terrain, featuring hills, flatlands, and lowlands with marshes and lakes. The country is located in the water basins of the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea, and is crossed by major transit routes, including one of Eurasia's main transport corridors from southwest to northeast. The shortest transport links connecting the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea also run through Belarus.

The country has a cool continental climate, with average January temperatures ranging from -4°C in the southwest to -8°C in the northeast. July temperatures typically reach around 18°C. Belarus receives moderate rainfall, ranging from about 530 mm in the lowlands to 700 mm on the higher morainic ridges.

Belarus has a rich history, having been controlled by various states throughout the medieval period and up to the 20th century, including Kievan Rus', the Principality of Polotsk, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and the Russian Empire. After the Russian Revolution in 1917, different states arose, competing for legitimacy, ultimately leading to the formation of the Byelorussian SSR, which became a founding constituent republic of the Soviet Union in 1922. Belarus gained independence from the Soviet Union on 25 August 1991 and has since retained close ties with Russia, signing a treaty in 2000 for greater cooperation and forming the Union State.

It has a population of 9.1 million

Belarus has a population of 9.1 million people. It is a unitary democratic welfare rule-of-law state with a socially oriented economy. The country is divided into six oblasts: Brest, Vitebsk, Gomel, Grodno, Minsk, and Mogilev. Minsk, the nation's capital and largest city, is administered separately as a city with special status.

The population of Belarus is predominantly urban, with 78.4% of people living in urban areas. Minsk is home to about one-fifth of the country's total population. Other major cities include Gomel, Mogilev, Vitebsk, Grodno, and Brest.

The ethnic makeup of Belarus is diverse, with Belarusians making up 84.9%-85% of the population, followed by Russians (7.5%), Poles (3.1%), and Ukrainians (1.7%). The two official languages of the country are Belarusian and Russian, with Russian being the more commonly spoken language at home.

Belarus has a negative population growth rate and a negative natural growth rate. The fertility rate is below the replacement rate, and the median age is expected to increase to between 60 and 64 by 2050. However, the country has a relatively high life expectancy, with an average of 72.15 years.

The Republic of Belarus has a presidential republic structure, with Alexander Lukashenko serving as the authoritarian president since 1994. The country has close ties with Russia, and the two nations signed the Union State Foundation Treaty in 1999, aiming for political and economic integration.

Belarus is a presidential republic

Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is a medium-sized state, covering an area of 207,600 square kilometres (80,200 sq mi) and a population of 9.1 million. Minsk is the capital and largest city.

The president is elected every five years by a national vote. To be eligible to run for office, a candidate must be a Belarusian citizen by birth, over thirty-five years old, and have resided in the country for ten years. The president is barred from formal membership in a political party during their tenure.

Alexander Lukashenko has been the only president of Belarus since the country's first and only free election after independence in 1994. Lukashenko heads a highly centralized and authoritarian government and has often been referred to as "Europe's last dictator".

The Republic of Belarus is a unitary democratic welfare and rule-of-law state. The country is divided into three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. The president is not a member of any of these branches but is given the necessary constitutional powers to ensure the interaction between public authorities and adequate performance of their functions. This model helps to prevent the concentration of power in a single government body.

The legislative branch is a bicameral parliament, comprising the House of Representatives (the lower house) and the Council of the Republic (the upper house). The House of Representatives has the power to appoint the prime minister, make constitutional amendments, and call for a vote of confidence on the prime minister, among other duties. The Council of the Republic has the power to select government officials, conduct impeachment trials, and accept or reject bills passed by the House of Representatives.

The executive branch includes a Council of Ministers, headed by the prime minister and five deputy prime ministers, who are appointed by the president. The president determines the structure of the government, appoints and dismisses deputy prime ministers, ministers, and other members of the government, and decides on the resignation of the government or its members.

The judiciary comprises the Supreme Court and specialized courts, such as the Constitutional Court. The judges of national courts are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Council of the Republic.

The Republic of Belarus gained independence from the Soviet Union on 25 August 1991. The country has retained close ties with Russia, its most dominant neighbour, and has shown no aspirations to join the European Union.

Minsk is its capital

Minsk is the capital of Belarus, and is administered separately from the rest of the country as a city with special status. It is the largest city in Belarus, with a population of 1,995,471. Minsk is located in the central region of Belarus and is the only oblast without external borders. Minsk is 215km from the closest capital city of a neighbouring country, Vilnius in Lithuania.

Minsk is part of a sprawling modern city that was almost entirely rebuilt after its near destruction in World War II. Minsk is home to around one-fifth of the population of Belarus. The city is 700km from Moscow, 550km from Warsaw, 580km from Kiev, and 470km from Riga.

The Battle on the Nemiga River in 1067 is considered the founding date of Minsk. The city was all but destroyed in World War II, and an estimated quarter of the pre-war population of Belarus was killed during the conflict. Minsk was rebuilt after the war, and the population returned to pre-war levels in 1971.

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