READING

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1. Read the text about the Republic of Belarus and explain whether it occupies a favorable geographical position and what natural resources it possesses. The republic of belarus

The Republic of Belarus is located in the centre of Europe, on the cross-roads of trade between East and West, South and North. It borders on Ukraine in the south-east, on the Russian Federation in the east and north, on Latvia and Lithuania in the north-west and on Poland in the west. Nowadays Belarus is an independent sovereign state, however, it has at times been in union with or a part of nearly each bordering country – the medieval Kievan Rus state, the Grand Dutchy of Lithuania, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Russian Empire, interwar Poland and the Soviet Union. The Republic of Belarus came into existence at the end of 1991 as the independent successor state of the BSSR.

The landscape is mostly flat. The highest point, Dziarzhynskaya Mountain, is only 345 metres above sea level. Elevated areas occupy about one-third of the republic’s territory. Southern Belarus is made up of marshes, swamps and forests. The vast, forested swamps (the largest in Europe) are called the Prypiats Marshes (Palesse).

Belarus is a country of long rivers and numerous rivulets and streams and beautiful lakes. The major rivers are the Neman and the Western Dvina flowing into the Baltic Sea and the Dnieper flowing into the Black Sea. Lake Naroch, located in the picturesque pine-covered country, is the largest. Lake Svitsiaz is more famous for its marvelous beauty and fascinating legends.

Forests cover 40 percent of the country’s surface. The best known are the Belavezha Forest (Pushcha) and the Naliboki Forest. The Belavezha Pushcha is the largest surviving area of majestic old spruces and rare animals. Up to a point, it’s the major home of the European bison (aurochs).

Belarus has a continental climate moderated by maritime influence from the Atlantic Ocean. Average January temperatures range from -4 °C to – 8 °C, but thaw days are frequent. Maximum temperatures in July are about + 17 °C to + 19 °C. Rainfall is moderate, with its maximum from June to August.

Belarus consists of 6 regions: Minsk, Brest, Grodno, Vitebsk, Mogilev and Gomel, where Minsk is the capital of the country. The population of the Republic of Belarus is about 10 million people, unfortunately, the country shows some decrease in its population nowadays, especially in rural areas. Belarusian and Russian are two official languages spoken on the territory of the country.

Despite the fact that Belarus is a relatively new country that has started developing as an independent state since 1991, it has great potential for its advancement in political and economic spheres. Thus, Belarus has a fairly rich mineral and raw material base for the production of construction materials. The most significant are deposits of raw cement, dolomite, chalk, building and decorative stone, clay for the manufacture of coarse ceramics and lightweight aggregates, silicate and construction sand, gravel and other materials. Up to a point, “Belaruskaliy” occupies the major place in the county’s economy, especially in exporting potash salt abroad. Recently, “Belaruskaliy” has become one of the major revenue sources for the country among all joint stock companies. However, there is a shortage of glass sands, clays for the production of high-quality bricks.

The Republic of Belarus does not have a massive mineral resource base, and in this regard, the country imports a large number of fuels and raw materials required for its facilities. Nevertheless, the geological exploration works held in the country constantly restock its mineral resources. Nowadays, about 5 thousand deposits representing about 30 types of minerals have been identified and explored in the depths of Belarus. In terms of the economy, the strategically important resources include potash and rock salts, oil, peat, construction materials and raw materials for their production, underground fresh and mineral water. Despite the reserve of oil, associated gas, peat, brown coal, Belarus is unable to meet the demand for fuel resources from its own raw materials. The volume of oil production in the country amounts to only 12-13 % of the demand, and in the future this ratio will not change.

Currently Belarus is undergoing an economic transition to market relations. In spite of some economic difficulties faced by the country, it struggles for better conditions on the economic arena. For example, Belarus is known world-wide for its heavy-duty trucks and tractors. Its plants and factories manufacture computers, engineering equipment, metal-cutting tools, and such consumer goods as bicycles, clocks and watches, motorcycles, refrigerators, etc. Moreover, Belarusian forests yield many wood products. As for agriculture, the country’s major crops include barley, flax, potatoes, rye and sugar beat. Farmers raise cattle and pigs.

Systematic work is conducted to shift the economy to “green” principles in Belarus. Belarus pays considerable attention to the problem of climate change, considering it a serious global challenge on the way to sustainable development. Sharing responsibility for the safe future of the planet, Belarus joined the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (2000) and the Kyoto Protocol (2005).

The republic is making a lot of effort in order to be an example of managing and caring for nature in the region. The country has all the conditions to reduce energy intensity, greenhouse gas emissions and prevent pollution of surface water and groundwater. Belarus has a legislative framework, which is close to the European one, high professional level of public administration and a quality control system of the environment. The launch of new productions with low emissions, the use of innovative technologies – alternative and resource-saving also contributes to the development of a green economy.

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