Belarus: Nature, History, Cities and Food

1.

BELARUS
From Veronika for Sam
A small country with a big story

2.

1. Geography of Belarus

3.

B elarus in Numbers
A flat, green and landlocked country in Eastern Europe
207,600 km²
5 neighbours
346 m
Approximate area of Belarus.
Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania and
Latvia.
Dzerzhinskaya Mountain — the highest
point.
~44% forest
~11,000 lakes
Lake Naroch
A large part of the country is covered by
forests.
Belarus has many lakes, rivers and
swamps.
The biggest lake, about 80 km².
Major rivers: Dnieper • Neman • Pripyat • Berezina

4.

Lake Naroch
Belarus has about 11,000 lakes. Lake
Naroch is the biggest one. Its area is about
80 square kilometres.

5.

2. Belarus vs Russia

6.

Why B elarus Can F eel E as ier
My personal comparison with Russia
Friendly & clean
Cheaper life
More relaxed
People seem kind and friendly. Streets are
usually clean.
Housing and everyday life may be cheaper
than in Russia.
Cities have fewer people and less traffic.
Nature is close
Easy to travel
It is easy to leave the city and get to forests, lakes
and countryside.
Belarus is small, so travelling around the country is
simple.

7.

The Trade-offs
Belarus can be comfortable — but there are fewer opportunities
Lower salaries
Career options
People generally earn much less money than in Russia.
There are fewer opportunities for work and career growth.
Education
Remote work
Russia has more universities and more educational
opportunities.
From my point of view, Belarus can be a good option for
people who work remotely.

8.

9.

A Very S hort His tory
From medieval states to independence
Middle Ages
18th c.
1919
1922
1991
Grand Duchy of
Lithuania
Russian Empire
Soviet Belarus
USSR
Independent Belarus

10.

11.

Minsk
Minsk is the capital and the biggest city of
Belarus. About two million people live there. After
the destruction of the Second World War, the city
was rebuilt. Today Minsk is known for wide
streets, monumental Soviet architecture, parks
and cleanliness.

12.

Upper Town
The historical heart of Minsk. Old streets,
churches and restored buildings make this
part of the city feel very different from its
broad Soviet avenues.

13.

Trinity Suburb
An old and beautiful area near the Svislach River.
Small colourful houses and the waterfront make it
one of the most recognizable parts of central
Minsk.

14.

Island of Courage and
Sorrow
A small island in central Minsk with a
memorial dedicated to Belarusian soldiers
who died in the war in Afghanistan.

15.

Gates of Minsk
Two monumental towers near the railway station.
They are one of the most recognizable symbols
of the capital.

16.

National Library of
Belarus
A modern building with an unusual geometric
form. The observation deck gives visitors a
panoramic view of Minsk.

17.

Loshitsa Estate
An old estate surrounded by a large park in Minsk
— a quiet place for walking among historic
buildings and nature.

18.

Mir Castle
One of the most famous castles in Belarus.
Construction began about 500 years ago.
Today the Mir Castle Complex is a UNESCO
World Heritage Site.

19.

MIR CASTLE
History reflected in water

20.

F ores t S ecrets P ark
A forest animal park near Baranovichi
Meet the animals
You can see deer, fallow deer, ostriches, sheep and
other animals. Some of them walk almost freely and
come close to visitors.
In the forest
The park is surrounded by nature, so the visit feels more
like a walk through a forest than a traditional zoo.

21.

Brest
Brest is a city in the west of Belarus, on the
border with Poland. I was there and really liked it:
beautiful, cozy and relaxed.

22.

Soviet Street
One of the most interesting streets in Brest is
Soviet Street. It is pedestrian, with cafés,
beautiful buildings and old-style lamps.

23.

The Brest Lamplighter
Every evening a real lamplighter lights old
kerosene lamps by hand on Soviet Street. This
tradition has existed since 2009.

24.

Brest Fortress
On 22 June 1941, German troops attacked
the Soviet Union. Brest Fortress was one of
the first places attacked, and its defenders
continued to resist.

25.

A PLACE OF MEMORY
Today the fortress is a large memorial complex. Parts of the old fortifications
remain beside monumental memorials to its defenders.

26.

“When I was in Brest Fortress, I cried.”
For me, it was a difficult and emotional place. There you can feel how
terrible the war was and how many people died. I think it is one of the
strongest places I have ever visited.
BREST FORTRESS

27.

BELOVEZHSKAYA PUSHCHA
Ancient forest • UNESCO World Heritage • European bison

28.

An Ancient E uropean F ores t
On the border between Belarus and Poland
Old forest
UNESCO
Belovezhskaya Pushcha preserves parts of an ancient European
forest.
It is one of the most famous natural places in Belarus and a
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Walk & observe
European bison
Visitors can walk through the forest, observe nature and see
animals.
The main symbol of the forest is the European bison — the
biggest land animal in Europe.

29.

THE EUROPEAN
BISON
The symbol of Belovezhskaya
Pushcha
and the largest land animal in Europe.

30.

Grodno
Grodno is in western Belarus, near Poland
and Lithuania. I haven’t visited it yet, but I
really want to go. It is one of the oldest and
most beautiful cities in Belarus.

31.

Grodno: A Different B elarus
More old-European in atmosphere than Minsk
Old & New Castles
Two of the city’s most famous historical landmarks stand near
the Neman River.
Kalozha Church
An ancient church on the high bank of the Neman — one of
Grodno’s best-known historical sights.

32.

MINSK → GRODNO
From monumental Soviet avenues
to an old European city atmosphere

33.

B elarus ian Villages
Quiet, green and well-kept
I really like to walk in Belarusian villages.
They are beautiful, clean and quiet — one
of the coziest parts of Belarus.

34.

What Makes Them Cozy?
Well-kept homes
Small fences
Greenery
People take care of their houses and the
areas around them.
Near houses there are often small,
beautiful fences.
Villages have a lot of flowers, trees and
green spaces.
Beautiful • Clean • Quiet

35.

Belarusian Food
I really like products in Belarus — especially dairy
products, glazed cheese bars and meat. It seems
to me that many products are natural and highquality.

36.

DRANIKI
One of the most famous Belarusian potato dishes

37.

B elarus & P otatoes
Yes, there are a lot of jokes about it
Potatoes are important in
Belarusian cuisine. Many
traditional dishes use them —
and the Internet is full of
Belarus-and-potato memes.