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INTRODUCTION
A former Soviet Republic, Belarus gained independence in December 1991. A landlocked country, Belarus is also known for its numerous lakes, around thousands of them, the largest being Lake Narach in the northwest.
Location of Belarus
Belarus is bordered by Russia towards the east, Ukraine towards the south, Poland towards the west, and the Baltic republics of Latvia and Lithuania towards the northwest.
Physical Map of Belarus
The country of Belarus consists of flat terrain which is filled with many forests, lakes, and marshes. The geographical regions of Belarus can be divided into four parts: the firs part in the north consists of lakes, hills, and forests; the second part in the west consists of agricultural region with mixed-conifer forests; the third part in the east consists of a broad elevated plain; and the fourth part in the south consists of Poles'ye, a lowland of rivers and swamps that extends into Ukraine. The highest mountain of Belarus, Mount Dzyarzhynskaya (1,135 ft), is located in the southwest of Minsk. Known of its rivers and lakes, the largest river to run through
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Belarus is the Dnieper, which flows southward, almost the entire length of the country in the east, passing through the city of Mahilyow.
Climate of Belarus
The climate of Belarus is temperate and continental in nature. The weather is cool but suffers high humidity. Precipitation occurs in every two days, in the form of either rain or snow. Sometimes, the north experiences extreme weather, where the temperature can plummet to -40°C or below.
Flora And Fauna of Belarus
Belarus has extensive forests including Coniferous forests having pine as the principal tree, spruce, oak, birch, alder, and ash trees. The country also has the oldest existing European forest and the sanctuary of the virtually extinct European bison called the Belovezhskaya Pushcha Reserve to boast about. Coming to the country's fauna, Belarus has more than 70 species of mammals, including deer, fox, wild pig, wolves, and the common squirrel; 280 species of birds, including doves, kestrels, wrens, bullfinches, and woodpeckers. The forests of Belarus are home to snakes and vipers, while rivers are the habitat of fur-bearing animals such as mink and otter.
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