Belarus' Red Map: Understanding The Country's Political Landscape

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 has a population of 9.1 million people and its capital and largest city is Minsk. Belarus has a unique natural environment, hosting a fascinating selection of rare plant and animal species, as well as several national parks. The country's landscape is predominantly flat, shaped by glacial movements and river erosion, and features large areas of marshy land. Belarus's natural resources include fossil fuel deposits, granite, limestone, and clay, among others.

Belarus is landlocked

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 is the largest landlocked country situated entirely in Europe, covering an area of approximately 207,595 square kilometres (80,153 square miles).

The country predominantly features flat terrain shaped by glacial movements and river erosion, with an elevation ranging from the highest peak, Dzyarzhynskaya Hara, at 345 metres (1,132 feet), to the lowest point at the Neman River, 90 metres (295 feet) above sea level. Belarus has more than 20,000 streams and over 10,000 lakes, and is drained by three major rivers: the Neman, the Pripyat, and the Dnieper.

Belarus has a cool continental climate moderated by maritime influences from the Atlantic Ocean. The country experiences mild to cold winters, with January minimum temperatures ranging from −4 °C (24.8 °F) in the southwest to −8 °C (17.6 °F) in the northeast. Summers are cool and moist, with an average temperature of 18 °C (64.4 °F). Belarus has a moderate annual rainfall of 550 to 700 millimetres (21.7 to 27.6 inches).

Belarus has a population of approximately 9.4 million people and is home to the city of Minsk, its capital and largest city. Minsk is located on the slopes of the Minsk Hills and serves as the administrative, cultural, educational, industrial, and economic centre of the country.

The country has a rich history, with its territory undergoing partition and changing hands repeatedly throughout the centuries. Belarusians share a distinct ethnic identity and language but have not historically enjoyed political sovereignty. The present borders of Belarus were established during World War II, and the country gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Since then, Belarus has retained close ties with Russia, its most dominant neighbour.

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

Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Belarus has 3,642 km of land borders, with its longest shared border being with Russia (1,312 km).

The country's current borders date from 1945, though they took their modern shape in 1939 when some lands of the Second Polish Republic were reintegrated into Belarus after the Soviet invasion of Poland. Belarus's borders were finalised after World War II.

The border with Ukraine is 975.2 km long, including 325.9 km of rivers. It starts from the BYPLUA tripoint to the west on the River Bug and stretches to BYRUUA in the east. Part of this area was contaminated after the Chernobyl disaster. The Belarus–Lithuania border is almost 679 km in length and serves as an outer border of the European Union and the western border of the Commonwealth of Independent States. The Belarus–Poland border is 418 km long and is heavily monitored as an external EU/Schengen border. The Belarus–Latvia border is 172.9 km long and spans from the tripoint with Lithuania to the tripoint with Russia.

It has a population of around 9 million

Belarus has a population of around 9 million people. The country's population has fluctuated over the years, with several events causing significant shifts. During World War II, Belarus lost about a quarter of its population, and it wasn't until 1971 that the population returned to pre-war levels.

In more recent times, the population of Belarus has been in decline. As of 2007, Belarus had a negative population growth rate and a negative natural growth rate. The fertility rate was 1.22, well below the replacement rate, and the median age was estimated to be between 30 and 34, projected to rise to between 60 and 64 by 2050.

Despite these challenges, Belarus has a high life expectancy, with an average of 72.15 years. As of 2019, the population was 9.41 million, with ethnic Belarusians constituting 84.9% of the total. Russians were the next largest group, making up 7.5% of the population, followed by Poles at 3.1%, and Ukrainians at 1.7%.

Belarus has a population density of about 50 people per square kilometre, and around 70% of its population is urban. Minsk, the nation's capital and largest city, is home to nearly 2 million residents and serves as the country's administrative, cultural, educational, industrial, and economic centre. Other major cities include Gomel, Mogilev, Vitebsk, Grodno, and Brest.

Minsk is the capital and largest city

Minsk, the capital and largest city of Belarus, is located on the Svislach and the now subterranean Niamiha rivers. It is the administrative centre of the Minsk Region and Minsk District. With a population of about two million, Minsk is the 11th most populous city in Europe and one of the administrative capitals of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

First mentioned in 1067, Minsk became the capital of the Principality of Minsk, an appanage of the Principality of Polotsk, before being annexed by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 1242. It received town privileges in 1499. From 1569, it was the capital of Minsk Voivodeship, an administrative division of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. It was part of the territories annexed by the Russian Empire in 1793, as a consequence of the Second Partition of Poland. From 1919 to 1991, after the Russian Revolution, Minsk was the capital of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, which became a republic of the Soviet Union in 1922. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Minsk became the capital of the newly independent Republic of Belarus.

Minsk is the economic capital of Belarus. It has developed industrial and services sectors that serve the needs of the entire nation. Minsk's contributions form nearly 46% of the Belarusian budget. It is the major industrial centre of Belarus, with companies producing electricity, trucks, footwear, television sets, washing machines, chocolate, distilled alcoholic beverages, and tobacco goods. Minsk has over 250 factories and plants, with major industrial employers including the Minsk Tractor Plant, Minsk Automobile Plant, Minsk Refrigerator Plant, and Horizont.

Minsk is also the cultural centre of Belarus. It has 11 theatres, 16 museums, 20 cinemas, 139 libraries, and the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Belarus. The city has a unique 20th-century architectural ensemble along Independence Avenue, from Independence Square to Masherov Avenue. Notable landmarks include the Victory Monument in Victory Square, the Town Hall in Svobody Square, the National Library of Belarus, the Holy Spirit Cathedral, the Catholic Cathedral of Saint Virgin Mary, and the Red Church.

Belarus is a republic

Belarus, officially known as the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Belarusians share a distinct ethnic identity and language, but they have historically lacked unity and political sovereignty. The territory that is now Belarus has been partitioned and exchanged between various powers, including Kievan Rus', the Principality of Polotsk, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and the Russian Empire.

In the aftermath of the 1917 Russian Revolution, the Byelorussian SSR emerged and became a founding constituent republic of the Soviet Union in 1922. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Belarus gained independence in 1991 and adopted a new constitution in 1994. Alexander Lukashenko was elected as the country's first president in its first and only free election after independence.

Belarus is a semi-presidential republic with a bicameral parliament, the National Assembly, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Council of the Republic. However, the country has been described as ""Europe's last dictatorship" due to its highly centralized and authoritarian government. Lukashenko has remained in power since 1994, eliminating term limits and extending the presidential term through a controversial vote.

The country has a population of approximately 9.1 million, with Minsk, the capital and largest city, being home to about one-fifth of the population. Belarus has a developing economy, ranking 60th on the United Nations' Human Development Index. It has close ties with Russia, signing a treaty in 1999 to form a politically integrated confederation.

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