Belarus miniguide
Belarus is an Eastern European State which has common borders with Russia , Ukraine , Poland , Lithuania and Latvia .The country covers an area of 207,600 km2 and has a population of just under 10 million (2008).
Belarus' capital - Minsk - have approx. 1.8 million, and is also the country's largest city.Other major cities - all with between 300,000 and 500,000 inhabitants: Homel, Mahiljou, Vitsebsk, Hrodna and Brest-Litovsk.
Belarus' history has been turbulent, and in the period 1917-1991 the country was part of the communist Soviet Union. Because of the close historical ties to neighboring Russia - especially in the Soviet period - is Russian the dominant language, but also the related Belarusian language has official status.
The landscape of Belarus is relatively flat (highest point: 345 m.), characterized by wide marshes, forests, rivers and lakes - and when it comes to climatic conditions, it is a humid continental climate dominates. The country's main natural attraction is Bialowiza Forest - Europe's only surviving lavlandsurskog, which is on UNESCO's World Heritage List. Part of it is in Poland.
The country has several interesting castles and palaces - and among these there are two UNESCO World Heritage list: the Mir Castle, which was begun in the 1400s and completed about 100 years later - and Njasvizj Castle, built ca. 1600. These castles are in the same area (the distance between them is ca. 30 km) - a little southwest of the capital Minsk.
Belarus hovedflypass the Minsk International Airport, located 42 km east of Minsk .
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