Description

Belarus is an Eastern European country that borders Russia to the east, the Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Latvia and Lithuania to the north. Also known as "White Rus", this country is covered with a third of forests, has about 11,000 lakes that are accompanied by marshes and flat lands. An estimated one-fifth of its country is uninhabitable as a result of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster of 1986, concentrated close to the Ukraine border, which affects the towns Homyel and Mahilyow.

The republican government is located in its capital, Minsk. It is represented by the President and a bicameral Parliament. Belarus is not a member of the European Union. It is restricted as such, mostly for its still in place, former Soviet policies. Despite its non-membership to the E.U., it was a founding member of the United Nations Charter in 1945. Although Belarus declared independence after the fall of communism in 1991, it is currently negotiating unification with Russia, making it the "Union of Russia and Belarus". Most of the economy is government controlled and not free, although argued otherwise.

The Struve Geodetic Arc, which is shared with other countries, is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. On a cool summer's day, one can take a walk through the historical Victory Square in Minsk, but should the weather pertain to its usual cold pattern, one can enjoy opera or the ballet which are still culturally important in Belarus today. Belarusian cuisine consists mostly of vegetables, meats and breads. The foods that are considered to be staples of Belarus include pork, cabbages, potatoes and bread.

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