английский / Topics / Belarus. Geographical position, nature and population
..docBelarus. Geographical position, nature and population.
Belarus is situated in Eastern Europe, in the west of Commonwealth of the Independent States. It occupies 208 thousand square kilometers. Belarus has frontiers with Russia, the Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. The republic has a very favorable territorial position, it is possible to say, that Belarus is on the central European crossroads, where important means of communication pass.
The population of the Republic of Belarus is about 10 million, the majority is constituted by the Belarusians, but there are also the Russians, the Ukrainians, the Poles, the Jews. The urban population is about 70%, approximately 30% of the population live in the country-side.
The landscape of Belarus is very picturesque. It is a land of vast plants and green hills, big forests and meadows. Belarus used to be called a land of bogs. The country is rich in water resources. Belarus totals about 10 thousand of lakes and 30 thousand of rivers, which run into the Black and Baltic seas. The main rivers are: the Dnieper, the Western Dvina, and the Neman. The largest of the lakes is the Naroch, the pride of the republic. Our rivers are flat, calm and not very deep. They are homely and dear. ALL THE REST OF THE LANDSCAPES FEATURES FOLLOWS THE SAME PATTERN. Hills, rather than mountains. Fields, rather than deserts.
The climate in Belarus is moderately continental. The breathing of the Baltic Sea is constantly felt here and even during the coldest winter months the temperature may rise well above zero. The average annual temperature in winter is 9 degrees below zero, in summer 19 degrees above zero. The nature of Belarus does not know storms or any cataclysms in general. The mixed and coniferous woods take 1/3 part of all the territory of the country.
It is also necessary to mention forest reserves located on the territory of Belarus. They are Belovezhskaya Putsha, Berezina and Pripiat reserves. Belovezhskaya Putsha, the so-called Museum of Nature, is one of the oldest reserves of Europe and it is put in the list of the World Heritage. The first limitation on hunting in Belovezhskaya Putsha were introduced in the 13th century, later they began to protect aurochses and the cutting down of wood was prohibited. The reserve takes 150 thousand hectares.
With its numerous rivers and lakes, forests and meadows Belarus is a unique formation with hundreds of remarkable species of plants and animals.