The Republic of Belarus

A lot of people say “There is no place like home” and “Every bird likes its nest”. Such a nest for me is my homeland. Officially it’s called the Republic of Belarus, a sovereign independent state with its own government, constitution, state emblem, flag and anthem. Belarus is a presidential republic, governed by a president and the National Assembly. Alexander Lukashenka has been the president of Belarus since 1994.

Belarus is situated almost in the centre of Europe. It occupies the territory of over 207 600 sq km and borders on Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia and Ukraine. Belarus is a landlocked country. It isn’t washed by any seas or oceans. The population of the country is about 10 million people. Belarus is divided into six regions, which are named after the cities that serve as their administrative centers.

Belarus' two official languages are Russian and Belarusian, but Russian is the main language. According to the government sources, most people in Belarus adhere to some kind of religion, among them Eastern Orthodoxy and Catholicism.

The climate of Belarus is continental with a comparatively mild winter and warm summer. Our native land is very beautiful with its blue lakes and ribbons of rivers edged with thick forests, with its endless fields, meadows and swamp, with its varied and plentiful animal and plant kingdom. Today it is more often called “blue-eyed”, the country of thousands of lakes. And thanks to forests, which occupy one third of the territory of the country it is also called the “lungs of Europe”.

Most of the Belarusian economy remains state-controlled and has been described as "Soviet-style”. Nowadays Belarus is a country of developed industry, education and culture. Its biggest enterprises produce tractors and Lorries, refrigerators and TV sets, watches and bicycles. It exports potassium salt, tractors, electronic equipment and products of light industry. Agriculture in Belarus specializes in milk and meat production. Potatoes, grain, flax, herbs and vegetables are cultivated here.

Moreover, Belarus has four UNESCO-designated World Heritage Sites: the Mir Castle Complex, the Nesvizh Castle, the Belovezhskaya Pushcha (shared with Poland), and the Struve Geodetic Arc (shared with nine other countries)