Finding Belarus: A Country's Geographical Conundrum

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 landlocked country in Eastern Europe

Belarus shares borders with five countries: Poland in the west, Lithuania in the northwest, Latvia and Russia in the north, Russia in the northeast and east, and Ukraine in the south. The total length of the state border is 3,617 km. The distance between Minsk and the closest capital city of the neighbouring country, Vilnius in Lithuania, is 215 km. The country stretches 560 km from north to south, and 650 km from west to east. Belarus is a medium-sized European state, with a total area of 207,600 sq km, or about 2% of the total area of Europe. It is the 13th largest country among 44 continental European states and the 84th largest country in the world.

Belarus is located in the East European Platform. The country has a predominantly flat terrain intersected by hills, flatlands, and lowlands with marshes and lakes. Lowlands with absolute heights of up to 200 m account for about 70% of the country's territory, while hills account for about 30%. The lowest area is in the Neman River valley in Grodno Oblast (80-90 m above sea level), and the highest point is Dzyarzhynskaya Hill in Dzyarzhynsk District, Minsk Oblast (345 m or 346 m). The northern part is called the Belarusian Lake District and features glacial relief, hills, and ridges. The middle part is located in the glaciolacustrine zone of the Belarusian Ridge and in the East Belarusian plateau-like lowland. The southern part features morainic and aquaglacial plains of sub-Polesie and flat, often marshy lowlands of Polesie.

Belarus is located in the water basins of the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea. There are about 20,000 to 20,800 rivers with a total length of 90,600 km in the country. The biggest rivers are the Dnieper, the Western Dvina, and the Neman. The Dnieper is the country's longest river, stretching 689 km through Belarusian territory. There are almost 10,000 to 11,000 lakes in Belarus. The biggest lakes, located in the north (the Braslav Lake District, also known as "the blue necklace"), were formed nearly 15,000 to 20,000 years ago when the Valdai glacier melted. The biggest lake in Belarus is Naroch (79.6 sq km), and the deepest lake is Dolgoye (53.6 m deep).

Belarus is divided into six oblasts: Brest, Vitebsk, Gomel, Grodno, Minsk, and Mogilev. Minsk, the capital city, is an independent city that does not belong to any oblast. Minsk Oblast is the central region of Belarus and the only oblast without external borders. According to the National Statistical Committee, as of January 1, 2023, the population of Belarus was 9,200,617, which is about 0.1% of the global population and about 1.2% of the European population. Belarus is the 97th most populated country in the world and the 7th most populated country in the CIS. The urban population accounts for 78.4% of Belarus' population, while 21.6% are rural residents. There are 115 towns, 85 urban-type settlements, and 23,008 villages in Belarus.

It is bordered by Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia

Belarus is bordered by five countries: Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. The country's total border length is 3,617km, with the closest capital city being Vilnius in Lithuania, which is 215km from Minsk. The country's other neighbouring capital cities are Riga (470km from Minsk), Warsaw (550km), Kiev (580km), and Moscow (700km).

Russia borders Belarus to the east and northeast. The two countries have a close relationship, with Belarus dependent on Russia for imports of raw materials and for its export market. In 1999, the two countries signed the Union State Foundation Treaty, which aimed to create a politically integrated confederation with a common currency. Belarus and Russia also signed a treaty for greater cooperation in 2000, forming the Union State. However, the future of the union has been placed in doubt due to Belarus's repeated delays in monetary union and other factors.

Ukraine borders Belarus to the south. During World War II, military operations devastated both countries, with Belarus losing about a quarter of its population and half of its economic resources. In more recent times, Belarus allowed its territory to be used by Russia's army to launch attacks into northern Ukraine as part of Russia's invasion in 2022.

Poland borders Belarus to the west. Throughout history, Poland and Belarus have had a tumultuous relationship, with Poland controlling parts of modern-day Belarus at various times. After the Polish-Soviet War (1918-1921), Belarus lost almost half of its territory to Poland. The present borders of Belarus were largely established during World War II, and the borders with Poland were finalised after the war.

Lithuania borders Belarus to the northwest. Throughout history, Lithuania and Belarus have had a complex relationship, with Lithuania controlling parts of modern-day Belarus during different periods. In the 13th century, the lands of modern-day Belarus joined the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In 1386, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of Poland were joined in a personal union, eventually resulting in the formation of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1569.

Latvia borders Belarus to the north. While there is less of a historical connection between the two countries compared to the other neighbouring nations, Latvia is an important part of the region's geography and trade routes.

Minsk is the capital and largest city

Minsk is the administrative centre of the Minsk Region and Minsk District and has a special administrative status within Belarus. It is divided into nine administrative districts and is home to approximately two million people, making it the 11th-most populous city in Europe. Minsk is also one of the administrative capitals of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

Minsk is the economic centre of Belarus, contributing nearly 46% of the country's budget. It is a major industrial hub, with companies producing machinery, food and beverages, electrical equipment, vehicles, construction materials, and pharmaceuticals. Minsk is also a centre for education and culture, with numerous universities, theatres, museums, and libraries.

Minsk has a warm summer humid continental climate, with unpredictable weather influenced by both the Atlantic Ocean and the Eurasian landmass. The city boasts an extensive public transport system, including metro, tramway, trolleybus, and bus lines.

Minsk is famous for its sports traditions and Olympic achievements, with many stadiums, sports grounds, and other facilities. It has hosted several international sporting events, including the European Games, the IIHF World Championship, and the European Figure Skating Championships.

Minsk values and honours its history, with numerous memorials and places of national memory. The city's architectural heritage includes a unique 20th-century ensemble on Independence Avenue, as well as the Victory Monument, the Town Hall, the National Library, and various cathedrals and churches.

The country has a hemiboreal climate

Belarus has a hemiboreal climate, which means it experiences cool humid winters and warm summers. The country has a moderate continental climate, with average temperatures ranging from −4.5°C to −8°C in January, and 17°C to 18.5°C in July. Some parts of Belarus have sub-zero temperatures for over a third of the year.

Belarus has an average annual rainfall of 600-700mm, with 70% of the rain falling between April and October. The country also experiences 75-125 days of snowfall each year, with falls ranging from 15 to 30cm.

The climate in Belarus is transitional between continental and maritime climates. The country is located in Eastern Europe and 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 landlocked country with a predominantly flat terrain, intersected by hills, flatlands, and lowlands with marshes and lakes.

The northern part of Belarus is called the Belarusian Lake District and features glacial relief, hills, and ridges. The middle part of the country is located in the glaciolacustrine zone of the Belarusian Ridge and the eastern Belarusian plateau-like lowland. The southern part of Belarus features morainic and aquaglacial plains of sub-Polesie and flat, often marshy lowlands of Polesie.

Belarus is located in the water basins of the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea and has thousands of rivers and lakes. The biggest rivers are the Dnieper, the Western Dvina, and the Neman. The Dnieper is the country's longest river, stretching 689km through Belarusian territory. There are almost 11,000 lakes in Belarus, with the biggest lake being Naroch and the deepest lake being Dolgoye.

The country's climate and geography have a significant impact on its flora and fauna. The natural vegetation of Belarus is mixed deciduous and coniferous forest, with pine and spruce dominating in the north, and deciduous trees such as oak and hornbeam more prevalent in the south. Birch is common throughout the country, especially in areas of burned or disturbed land.

One of the largest surviving areas of primeval mixed forest in Europe is the Belovezhskaya Forest on the western border with Poland. This forest is home to a diverse range of plant and animal life, including the European bison, elk, deer, boars, small game, hares, squirrels, foxes, badgers, and beavers.

In summary, Belarus's hemiboreal climate, influenced by maritime and continental air masses, contributes to its diverse landscapes and ecosystems, making it an interesting country to explore in terms of its natural environment.

Belarus is heavily dependent on Russia for its energy supplies

Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the north and east, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Belarus covers an area of 207,595 square kilometres and has a population of 9.4 million. Minsk, the largest city, is the national capital and home to 21.5% of the population.

Belarus has a diversified industrial profile and has achieved solid economic growth through manufacturing and exports, including machinery and equipment, mineral products, chemicals, metals, and textiles. However, the country has modest natural resources and relies heavily on imports from Russia to meet its energy needs. In 2018, only 15% of the country's energy demand was met by domestic production, making Belarus one of the least energy self-sufficient countries in the world.

Russia's ownership of Belarus' gas transmission systems contributes to the unequal relationship between the two countries. Belarus offered Beltransgaz, the country's largest gas company, to Russia's state-owned Gazprom through a share repurchase mechanism. Gazprom now has full control over Beltransgaz, which has been turned into a subsidiary called Gazprom Transgaz Belarus. This gives Russia significant influence over Belarus' energy supply.

Additionally, Russia's energy giant Slavneft holds majority ownership of Naftan, one of the two Belarusian oil refineries. Russian companies also have ambitions to take over the Mozyr refinery, which would give Moscow control over two-thirds of Belarus' exports to the West. Furthermore, Russian nuclear monopoly Rosatom is the principal contractor for Belarus' first nuclear power plant, Ostravets, which became operational in 2021 with $11 billion in loans from Russia. When fully completed, the plant is expected to meet 40% of the country's domestic electricity demand.

Belarus is also an important transit route for Russian gas exports to Europe, with around 20-25% of Gazprom's exports passing through the country. Two major pipelines, Northern Lights and Yamal-Europe, run through Belarus. In 2019, 33 billion cubic metres of gas were delivered to European buyers through the Yamal-Europe pipeline alone. This makes Belarus strategically important for Russia's energy exports to Europe.

While Belarus has explored alternative energy sources and suppliers, its economy remains heavily dependent on affordable energy imports from Russia. The two countries have had several energy-related disputes, but their close relationship and mutual interests have ultimately led to continued integration and cooperation in the energy sector.

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