Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. Minsk is the capital and largest city of Belarus. On the other hand, Oslo is the capital and most populous city of Norway. Therefore, Oslo is not the capital city of Belarus.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Country | Belarus |
Capital City | Minsk |
Location | Eastern Europe |
Population | 9.1 million |
Area | 207,600 sq km |
Borders | Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia |
Language | Belarusian, Russian |
Religion | Eastern Orthodox |
Government | Republic |
President | Alexander Lukashenko |
What You'll Learn
Minsk is the capital of Belarus
The city is centrally located in the country, which is part of Eastern Europe and 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 landlocked country, with a predominantly flat terrain intersected by hills, flatlands, and lowlands with marshes and lakes. Minsk is situated in the middle of the country's six regions, in a region that is the only one without external borders.
Minsk was nearly destroyed during World War II, but it was rebuilt after the war and is now a modern city. It is the economic and cultural centre of Belarus, with a population of about 2 million people. The city has a cool continental climate, with mild to cold winters and cool, moist summers.
Minsk has a rich history that dates back to the 10th century. The Battle of the Nemiga River, which took place in 1067, is considered the founding date of the city. Minsk was severely damaged during World War II, losing about a quarter of its population and half of its economic resources. After the war, Minsk became an important centre of industry and culture in the Soviet Union.
Today, Minsk is a vibrant city with a mix of modern and historic architecture. It is home to several universities, museums, and cultural institutions, including the National Library of Belarus, the Belarusian State University, and the National Academic Theatre of Belarus. The city also has a well-developed public transportation system, with buses, trams, and a metro system.
Minsk is known for its friendly and hospitable people, and it offers visitors a range of attractions, including the National Historical Museum, the Belarusian State Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Lifestyle, and the Great Patriotic War Museum. The city also has a lively gambling industry and a growing IT business.
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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 spans 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 of Belarus.
The topography of Belarus was largely shaped by glaciation during the Pleistocene Epoch. Much of the country consists of flat lowlands separated by low level-topped hills and uplands. The highest point, Dzyarzhynskaya Hill, is only 345 metres (1,132 ft) above sea level, and more than half the surface area of Belarus lies below 660 feet (200 metres). Belarus has more than 20,000 streams, with a total length of about 56,300 miles (90,600 km), and more than 10,000 lakes. The country lies within two ecoregions: Sarmatic mixed forests and Central European mixed forests.
Belarus has a cool continental climate moderated by maritime influences from the Atlantic Ocean. Average January temperatures range from the mid-20s F (about −4 °C) in the southwest to the upper teens F (about −8 °C) in the northeast, but thaw days are frequent. Maximum temperatures in July are generally in the mid-60s F (about 18 °C). Rainfall is moderate, though higher than over most of the vast Russian Plain of eastern Europe, and ranges from about 21 inches (530 mm) on the lowlands to some 28 inches (700 mm) on the higher morainic ridges.
The natural vegetation of the country is mixed deciduous and coniferous forest. In the north, conifers, notably pine and spruce, tend to predominate; southward the proportion of deciduous trees, such as oak and hornbeam, increases. Birch is common everywhere, especially as the first growth on burned or disturbed areas. The Belovezhskaya Forest, on the western border with Poland, is one of the largest surviving areas of primeval mixed forest in Europe, encompassing more than 460 square miles (1,200 square km).
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Belarus is in Eastern Europe
Belarus, officially known as 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 70% of its population living in urban areas. The country is divided into six regions: Brest, Gomel, Grodno, Mogilev, Minsk, and Vitebsk.
Belarus has a hemiboreal climate and is home to many streams and lakes. The country's landscape is mostly flat, with hills, flatlands, and lowlands with marshes and lakes. Belarus is known for its rich natural resources, including peat deposits, small quantities of oil and natural gas, granite, dolomite, marl, chalk, sand, gravel, and clay.
The country gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 and has since retained close ties with Russia. Belarus has a centralised authoritarian government, with President Alexander Lukashenko serving as the head of state. The country has a bicameral parliament, with the House of Representatives and the Council of the Republic.
The official languages of Belarus are Belarusian and Russian, with Russian being the predominant language spoken by the population. The country has a rich cultural heritage, with traditional music, literature, and performing arts. Minsk, the capital and largest city, is home to various cultural institutions and festivals.
Belarus has a developing economy, with a focus on industries such as agriculture, manufacturing, and IT. The country has trade relations with over 180 countries, with Russia and the EU being its main trading partners.
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Belarus is a former Soviet republic
Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a former Soviet republic. It was known as the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (BSSR) and was a founding member of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in 1922.
The BSSR was formed in July 1920 and became one of the four founding members of the Soviet Union in December 1922, along with the republics of Russia, Transcaucasia, and Ukraine. It was ruled by the Communist Party of Byelorussia and was one of 15 constituent republics of the USSR from 1922 to 1991.
During World War II, Belarus was the hardest-hit Soviet republic, remaining under German occupation until 1944. The country lost about a quarter of its population and half of its economic resources during the war.
In July 1990, the parliament of the BSSR proclaimed the sovereignty of Belarus, and the country gained independence on 25 August 1991 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Alexander Lukashenko was elected as the first president of the newly independent Republic of Belarus in 1994.
Since gaining independence, Belarus has retained close ties with Russia, its most dominant neighbour. In 1999, the two countries signed the Union State Foundation Treaty, aiming to create a politically integrated confederation with a common currency. Belarus has also maintained several Soviet-era policies, such as state ownership of large sections of the economy, and is the only European country that continues to use capital punishment.
Today, Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe with a population of approximately 9.1 million people. Minsk, the capital and largest city, is home to about one-fifth of the country's population. The country has a semi-presidential system of government, with Lukashenko serving as president since 1994. While the constitution allows for a two-term limit, a change in the constitution in 2004 removed these restrictions, allowing Lukashenko to remain in power.
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Belarus is a dictatorship
No, Oslo is not the capital of Belarus. Minsk is the capital and largest city of Belarus, a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. Belarus has been described as a dictatorship, with President Alexander Lukashenko being labelled "Europe's last dictator" by the media.
Lukashenko has been the president of Belarus since 1994 and is currently the longest-serving head of state in Europe. He has presided over an authoritarian government, suppressing opponents and limiting media freedom. International monitors have not regarded Belarusian elections as free and fair, except for his initial win. This has resulted in multiple Western governments imposing sanctions on Lukashenko and other Belarusian officials.
Lukashenko has described Belarus as a "dictatorship of stability, security, order, kindness and hospitality" and a "dictatorship of justice". He has denied accusations of corruption by foreign critics and has maintained close ties with Russia, Belarus's most dominant neighbour.
Belarus has continued several Soviet-era policies, such as state ownership of key industries, and is the only European country that continues to use capital punishment. The country ranks low in international measurements of freedom of the press and civil liberties, and has been criticised by organisations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch for human rights violations.
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