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Belarus is an Eastern European country. Situated in the
Plain of Northern Europe, it covers an area of 207 600
km 2 . Belarus is bordered by Latvia in the
north, Russia in the east, Ukraine in the south, Poland
in the west and Lithuania in the northwest. The main
cities are Minsk, the capital, with 1,695,000
inhabitants (1995), Brest, Homel (514,000 inhabitants),
Orsha and Mahilyow (366,000 inhabitants). The climate
is continental, with cold winters and mild, rainy
summers.
Economy
Most of the country's territory is occupied by
forests. In agricultural terms, the dominant crops are
potatoes, beets, flax, vegetables, wheat and
fruits. Belarus is poor in mineral resources, although
it has considerable potassium deposits. There are some
reserves of oil and natural gas. The industry includes
the production of chemical fertilizers, building
materials, plastics, paper, fabrics, television and
radio receivers, computers, watches, bicycles and
tractors. The main destinations are Russia, Ukraine,
Poland and Germany, and are mainly made up of trucks,
synthetic fibers, refrigerators, tires and fertilizers.
Population
The population of Belarus is 10,293,011 inhabitants
(2006), which corresponds to a density of 49.62 inhab./km2 . The
birth and death rates are, respectively, 11.16% and
14.02%, which implies a downward trend in the
population, which, in 2025, is estimated to reach 10 135
000 inhabitants. Average life expectancy is 69.08
years. Belarusians represent 78% of the population,
followed by Russians (14%) and Ukrainians (3%). The
religion with the greatest expression is Orthodox
Christianity. The official language is Belarusian
although Russian is also spoken.
History
In the 13th century, what today corresponds to Belarus
was incorporated in Lithuania and, in 1569, it was
united to Poland. In the 18th century, with the three
partitions of Poland, Russia conquered the entire
territory to which it named Belarus. Until the 19th
century, the region did not develop
economically. Between 1918 and 1921, the country was
disputed between Germany, the Russian Bolshevik
Government and Poland. Some western regions were
eventually transferred to Poland by the
Bolsheviks. However, in 1919, Russia proclaimed the
Soviet Socialist Republic of Belarus which, in 1922,
became part of the Soviet Union. In the 1930s and 1940s,
the country experienced strong industrialization. At the
end of the Second World War, the country experienced
extreme poverty, in addition to the deaths caused by the
war. At that time, the Soviet Government reconquered the
western areas that had been under Polish administration
since 1921. Immediately thereafter, the territory
underwent massive reconstruction. From the 1980s, the
central authority of the Soviet Union began to weaken
and, in July 1990, Belarus declared its sovereignty and,
consequently, independence, in August 1991. With the
dismemberment of the Soviet Union in December of the
same year, the country achieved full independence. Still
in 1991, it joined the Commonwealth of Independent
States (CIS). Belarus declared its sovereignty and,
consequently, independence, in August 1991. With the
dismemberment of the Soviet Union in December of the
same year, the country achieved full independence. Still
in 1991, it joined the Commonwealth of Independent
States (CIS). Belarus declared its sovereignty and,
consequently, independence, in August 1991. With the
dismemberment of the Soviet Union in December of the
same year, the country achieved full independence. Still
in 1991, it joined the Commonwealth of Independent
States (CIS). |
