Belarus: TravelGuide

Belarus, country of the Eastern Europe, is lined in the northwest by Lithuania and Latvia, in the East by Russia, in the South by Ukraine and on the West by Poland. Belarus is a State enclosed without access to the sea. The surface of the Republic is 207 600 km2. Belarus is an immense low, often... Más

Belarus, country of the Eastern Europe, is lined in the northwest by Lithuania and Latvia, in the East by Russia, in the South by Ukraine and on the West by Poland. Belarus is a State enclosed without access to the sea. The surface of the Republic is 207 600 km2. Belarus is an immense low, often swampy plain, punctuated with hills. The mountain Kodjan peaks in 346 m. In the South extend the swamps of Polésie. Forests cover 34 % of the territory. The country counts approximately 4 000 lakes and rivers. Among the biggest rivers and the rivers we find, in the North, western Dvina, on the West, Niémen and Dniépr. The navigable rivers and the channel(canal) of Dniépr-Boug allows an access to the Baltic Sea and to the Black Sea. The climate is continental with an important rate of humidity (pluviomètrie monthly maximal of 140 mm in June, July). Summers are short and warm with temperatures being able to reach(affect) 30°C. The winters are cold, rainy and with some frequent snow. The temperature can come down(fall) in-30°C.4) Main cities A) Minsk, the capital of Belarus is situated on Svislotch (tributary of Bérézina). The city of 1 728 300 inhabitants is an important industrial and cultural area. She(it) shelters the Academy of Science of Belarus, the national University based(established) in 1921, a national music academy, companies of opera and ballet, as well as several theaters and museums. The main branches of industry are constructions mechanics (trucks, tractors, machine tools), the electrical and electronic manufacturing, the textile(textile industry), the watchmaker's shop(watch-making) and the food-processing industry. The city keeps(preserves) the ruins of a fortress, a catholic cathedral dating 1615, Orthodox Churches and tower of 1750. At the beginning of the XIth century Minsk became the capital of an indépendanté principality. She(it) was successively annexed by Lithuania then Poland and Russia. During the Polish-Soviet war of 1919-1920, it was the theater of violent fights. The city was largely annulled in 1941. B) Gomel,the second city of Belarus ( 434 800 inhabitants) is the capital of the region of Gomel (southeast of the country) and port(bearing) on Soj. The main branches of industry are building materials, fertilizers, agricultural machines and food. The city shelters the state university of Gomel ( 1969 ). She(it) was mentioned for the first time in 1142. She(it) was successively a part of Russia " kiévienne ", Lithuania, Poland before being annexed by Russia in 1772. C) Vitebsk, administrative center of the region of Vitebsk, on Dvina (northeast of the country) is a harbour city, a railway junction and an industrial area specialized in the mechanical engineerings, the manufacturing of building materials, the food industries and the preparation(clothing business). His(her) population is estimated(esteemed) to 373 000 inhabitants. Based(established) in the XIth century, Vitebsk was the capital of an independent principality before passing under Lithuanian then Polish dominion. She(it) was annexed by Russia in 1772. It is Marc Chagall's homeland. D) Grodna, administrative centre of the region of Grodna, on Niémen is situated near the Polish border. The city is a rail junction and an industrial area producing electric equipments, fertilizers, materials of construction, the textile(textile industry) and shoes. The population of the city is 308 300 inhabitants. Among the historic buildings(ships) which counts the city we can quote the palace (in the end of XVIth century) from king of Poland Stephen Bathory. Grodna was based(established) in the Xth century. E) Brest is in the southwest of Belarus a few kilometers away from the border with Poland. It is at once(at the same time) a railway junction, a center of business and an industrial city. The population of Brest is 300 400 inhabitants. The city was mentioned for the first time in the XIth century. The treaty of Brest-Litovsk (Russian name which carried(wore) the city until 1921) was signed on March 3rd, 1918 between the Soviet government and the powers of the Central Europe. Menos