Belarus: A Town In Australia?

Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, with Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. It is not a town in Australia. However, there is a community of Australians in Belarus, mostly in the capital, Minsk.

Belarus's capital, Minsk

Minsk, the capital of Belarus, is a modern, progressive city with a rich history. It is the only city in Belarus with an underground metro system and is known for its many fountains, with over 100 dotted around the city. The city is located in the northwest of the country on the Svislač and Nyamiha rivers and covers a total area of 409 square kilometres (158 square miles). Minsk has a population of around 2 million people and is the cultural centre of Belarus, with 11 theatres, 16 museums, 20 cinemas, and 139 libraries.

Minsk has a special administrative status in Belarus and is the administrative centre of the Minsk Region and Minsk District. The city was first mentioned in 1067 and became the seat of a principality in 1101. It has had a tumultuous history, suffering frequent destruction by fire, occupation, and damage by invading forces. Despite this, Minsk remained the capital when Belarus gained independence in 1991.

Minsk has a vibrant food scene, with fashionable cafes and impressive restaurants vying for attention. The city also boasts a lively nightlife, with crowded nightclubs and sushi bars. One of the most notable sites in Minsk is its main street, Independence Avenue, which is over 15 kilometres long. This street is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to many tourist attractions, including Independence Square, KGB headquarters, October Square, Gorky Park, and the National Library.

The National Library of Belarus, constructed in 2006, is particularly noteworthy for its unique shape—a rhombicuboctahedron with 8 triangular and 18 square faces. Another famous landmark is the Church of Saints Simon and Helena, also known as the Red Church, a Roman Catholic church on Independence Square. Minsk is also home to one of the largest botanical gardens in Europe, founded in 1932 and spanning 53 hectares.

Minsk has a cold winter and a mild summer, with average temperatures ranging from several degrees below zero in winter to quite pleasant summers. The city offers visa-free travel for tourists staying for up to five days, making it an accessible destination for visitors from around the world.

Belarusian cities and towns

Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It has a population of 9.1 million people and is divided into six regions. The country has a two-level system of administrative-territorial units, with 118 raions (districts) and 10 cities of oblast subordination (regions).

The capital and largest city of Belarus is Minsk, with a population of nearly 2 million people. Other major cities include Gomel, Mogilev, Vitebsk, Grodno, Brest, and Bobruysk.

As of 2020, Belarus had 115 settlements with the status of a city or town, including 10 cities of regional subordinance and 104 towns of district subordinance. Belarusian legislation uses a three-level hierarchy of town classifications based on population size, with the most developed urban localities having a population of at least 50,000 people.

• Minsk: The capital and largest city, with a population of 1.9 million.
• Gomel: The second-largest city and the capital of the Gomel Region.
• Mogilev: The third-largest city, with a population of 365,100.
• Vitebsk: A major city and the site of the Slavianski Bazaar, a cultural festival showcasing Belarusian performers and artists.
• Grodno: A city in western Belarus on the Neman River, with a population of 314,800.
• Brest: A city in southwestern Belarus known for its 19th-century fortress, which is a popular tourist attraction.
• Bobruysk: A city in southern Belarus on the Berezina River.
• Pinsk: A city in southwestern Belarus known for its Jesuit collegium.
• Salihorsk: A city in central Belarus with a population of over 100,000.
• Maladzyechna: A town in northern Belarus with a population of 100,000.
• Zhodzina: A town in northern Belarus with a population of 61,000.
• Navapolatsk: A city in northern Belarus with a population of 83,000.
• Polatsk: One of the oldest cities in Belarus, founded in the 9th century.
• Pastavy: A town in northern Belarus with a population of 16,000.
• Hlybokaye: A town in northern Belarus with a population of 16,000.
• Mahilyow: A city in eastern Belarus with a population of 363,000.
• Babruysk: A city in southern Belarus with a population of 216,000.
• Horki: A town in eastern Belarus.
• Asipovichy: A town in eastern Belarus.
• Krychaw: A town in eastern Belarus.
• Klichaw: A town in eastern Belarus.
• Homyel: A city in southeastern Belarus.
• Zhlobin: A town in southeastern Belarus.
• Svyetlahorsk: A town in southeastern Belarus.
• Kalinkavichy: A town in southeastern Belarus.
• Rahachow: A town in southeastern Belarus.
• Zhytkavichy: A town in southeastern Belarus.
• Pyetrykaw: A town in southeastern Belarus.
• Yelsk: A town in southern Belarus.
• Baranavichy: A city in western Belarus with a population of 148,000.
• Kobryn: A town in western Belarus.
• Luninyets: A town in western Belarus.
• Pruzhany: A town in western Belarus.
• Ivanava: A town in western Belarus.
• Drahichyn: A town in western Belarus.
• Kamyenyets: A town in western Belarus.
• Hrodna: A city in northwestern Belarus with a population of 326,000.
• Vawkavysk: A town in northwestern Belarus.
• Navahrudak: A town in northwestern Belarus.
• Shchuchyn: A town in northwestern Belarus.
• Smarhon: A town in northwestern Belarus.

These cities and towns showcase the diverse geography and cultural heritage of Belarus, with a mix of large cities, small towns, and rural settlements across its six regions.

Belarusian history

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 covers an area of 207,600 square kilometres (80,200 sq mi) and has a population of 9.1 million, with Minsk as its capital and largest city.

Between the medieval period and the 20th century, different states controlled the lands of modern-day Belarus, 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, the Byelorussian SSR emerged from the Civil War and became a founding constituent republic of the Soviet Union in 1922. Following World War II, during which Belarus lost about a quarter of its population and half of its economic resources, the Byelorussian SSR became a founding member of the United Nations and continued as a republic of the Soviet Union.

On July 27, 1990, the parliament of the Byelorussian SSR proclaimed the sovereignty of Belarus, and on August 25, 1991, Belarus gained independence during the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Alexander Lukashenko was elected as the first president of the newly independent Belarus in 1994. Lukashenko has maintained a highly centralized and authoritarian government, and Belarus has often been described as "Europe's last dictatorship."

Medieval Period to the 20th Century

During this extended period, various states controlled the lands of modern-day Belarus, resulting in a diverse cultural and ethnic landscape.

Russian Revolution and Civil War (1917)

The Russian Revolution of 1917 marked a significant shift in the region, leading to the emergence of competing states and ultimately resulting in the rise of the Byelorussian SSR.

Formation of the Soviet Union (1922)

The Byelorussian SSR became a founding constituent republic of the Soviet Union in 1922, shaping Belarus's political and social landscape for decades to come.

World War II (1939-1945)

Belarus suffered devastating losses during World War II, losing about a quarter of its population and half of its economic resources. The country was occupied by Nazi Germany until 1944 and was the hardest-hit Soviet republic in the war.

Independence (1991)

On August 25, 1991, Belarus gained independence from the Soviet Union, marking a new chapter in its history as a sovereign nation.

Lukashenko Era (1994-Present)

Alexander Lukashenko has served as the president of Belarus since 1994, consolidating power through authoritarian means and maintaining close ties with Russia. Lukashenko's rule has been characterized by restricted civil liberties, continued Soviet-era policies, and economic challenges.

Belarusian culture

Belarusian literature has a rich history, dating back to the 11th–13th centuries with religious writings in Old Belarusian, Latin, Polish, or Church Slavic. In the 16th century, Francysk Skaryna translated the Bible into the vernacular (Old Belarusian), and in the 19th century, literary works by poets like Yanka Kupala and Yakub Kolas epitomised the development of Belarusian literature and spread the idea of nationhood. Post-independence authors in the 1990s continued to explore rural themes, while other fields like painting, sculpture, music, film, and theatre focused on urban reality, universal concerns, and values.

Belarusian music has a strong folk tradition, with roots tracing back to the times of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In the 17th century, Polish composer Stanisław Moniuszko composed operas and chamber music while living in Minsk and working with Belarusian poet Vintsent Dunin-Martsinkyevich. The first major musical composition by a Belarusian was the opera Faust by Antoni Radziwiłł. Folk music remains popular, with bands like Pesniary, Syabry, and Verasy inspiring newer groups like Stary Olsa, Vicious Crusade, and Gods Tower to continue the tradition. Rock music emerged during the Perestroika era, with bands like Bi-2, Lyapis Trubetskoy, Krama, and ULIS gaining popularity. However, the Belarusian government has suppressed the development of popular music through various legal and economic mechanisms, leading many bands to sign with Russian labels and perform outside of Belarus.

Traditional Belarusian dress, which originated during the Kievan Rus' period, is still worn today at special functions. The clothing is designed with warmth and closed covering in mind, using fabrics woven with many threads of different colours or adorned with symbolic ornaments. Embroidery plays a significant role in Belarusian traditions.

Belarusian cuisine consists mainly of vegetables, meat (especially pork), and bread. Foods are typically slowly cooked or stewed, and a typical meal includes a light breakfast followed by two hearty meals later in the day. Both wheat and rye bread are consumed, but rye is more common due to the harsh climate for growing wheat. Hospitality is an important aspect of Belarusian culture, and hosts traditionally offer bread and salt to greet guests or visitors.

Belarusian geography

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 the largest landlocked country in Europe, 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 administered separately as a city with special status.

Belarusian legislation uses a three-level hierarchy of town classifications. As of 2020, 115 settlements had the status of a city or town, including 10 cities of regional subordinance and 104 towns of district subordinance.

Belarus has a cool continental climate moderated by maritime influences from the Atlantic Ocean. The country has many streams and 11,000 lakes, and three major rivers: the Neman, the Pripyat, and the Dnieper. The Neman flows westward towards the Baltic Sea, the Pripyat flows eastward to the Dnieper, and the Dnieper flows southward towards the Black Sea.

Belarus has a relatively flat topography, with large tracts of marshy land and forests covering about 40% of the country. The highest point is Dzyarzhynskaya Hara (Dzyarzhynsk Hill) at 345 metres (1,132 ft) above sea level, while the lowest point is on the Neman River at 90 m (295 ft).

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