Belarus Overview
Country Profile
Belarus is a landlocked country in central Europe. The full name of the country is the Republic of Belarus, meaning “pure Russian newcomer.” Covering an area of 207,600 square kilometers, it has a population of 9.87 million and a total of more than 80 nationalities, of which the Belarussian race accounts for 81.2%. There are also Russians, Polish, and so on. Residents are Orthodox. The official languages are Belarusian and Russian. The currency is the Belarussian ruble. The capital is Minsk (Minsk).
Belarus National Flag
The flag is red with a lower green strip. On the flagpole side is a vertical white floral pattern with strong ethnic characteristics.
History Summary
Belarus is an Eastern Slavic tribe. From the 9th to 11th century AD, most of its territory belonged to the Kievan Rus. A number of feudal principalities were established in the 12th century. In the 14th century, Belarus was part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, including its Russian annexation. On January 1, 1919, the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic was established. It joined the Soviet Union in 1922. On July 27, 1990, the Supreme Soviet of Belarus declared sovereignty. On August 25, 1991, Belarus declared independence and on December 19 was renamed the Republic of Belarus, referred to as Belarus.
Economy and Culture Overview
Belarus’ agriculture is well-developed and rich in flax, sugar beet and other agricultural products. Meat and milk production are also high. Machinery manufacturing, chemical, petrochemical, wood processing, light industry, and food industries are developed. Urban and rural residents are entitled to free medical care, retirement security, and other benefits.
Belarus is located in the Russian Plain, with the north consisting of the low and white moraine hills and plains. The southern part of the country is lowlands, with many swamps and about 11 000 lakes. Belarus enjoys a reputation as the “country of thousand lakes.” It has a strategic location, with the world-famous Eurasian Continental Bridge across the bridge, said to be a “transportation hub.” Minerals are mainly potassium salts, rock salt, oil, and apatite.
Asia-Europe Continental Bridge Railway
The international community usually connects to the mainland port city across the entire intercontinental long-distance rail transport network, so it is called the railway “land bridge.” This is a realization of the major transport of cargo via waterway and rail, the development of which has very important significance for international trade. The world has two transcontinental railroad land bridges. The firs,t known as the Siberian Continental Bridge, was opened in 1967, and runs east to the Sea of Japan port of Nakhodka and west to Western Europe and the Nordic countries. The second, which opened in mid-1992, runs on the east to coastal China and the cities of Lianyungang, Dalian, Shanghai and Hong Kong, running west to the port city of Rotterdam. It almost connects all of the more-developed countries of Asia and Europe.
Pripet marshes
On the East European Plain, western Ukraine and Belarus are adjacent. Since this plain was formed by ancient glaciers, the area has a high scientific value. A dense river and swamp area, abundant water, coupled with precipitation higher than the annual evaporation over the previous year, has brought the water table very close to the surface. In addition, pine forests have grown in some areas and most of the marsh is extremely humid. How marsh resources were able to be reclaimed, developing the economy while effectively protecting the environment, has attracted interest of scientists.
Belarus Map
