Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe that shares its borders with Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. Despite its diminutive size Belarus has changed the world in a variety of ways serving as the birthplace of the KGB and numerous authors and writers. Belarus has more than 10,000 navigable lakes and canals, and contains most of Europe's bogs and marshlands. woods cover about a third of the countries territories, and while the north is hilly the nations highest point is only 346m or 1135ft.

Belarus is a CIS country and maintains a close relationship with Russia who is one of its main trading partners. Approximately half of Belorussians work in the service industry with 41% working in industrial jobs such as manufacturing and 8% working in the agricultural sector. It is important to note while only around 1% of Belorussians are unemployed underemployment is rampant with around 30% of the country living below the poverty line.

1. The capital of Belarus is Minsk.
2. Aleksandr Lukashenko is the current president and is often referred to as Europe's last dictator.
3. Population is 9.7 million.
4. Belarus became independent from the USSR in 1991.
5. $1US is equal to 2862BYR and 1EUR is equal to 4103BYR.
6. 80% of Belorussians are Belorussian Orthodox and 14% are Roman Catholics with the remainder being mostly Muslim and Jewish.
7. On New Year's Eve many Belorussians watch television waiting for the Kremlin to chime at midnight.
8. It is considered extremely important to maintain eye contact during conversations, particularly if they are of a serious nature.
9. Ice hockey, soccer, gymnastics, and figure skating are all popular sports in Belarus.
10. New Year's Day is a day for children to go to parties with Santa Claus and his granddaughter, Snow White.

Until the 20th Century the area of modern-day Belarus belonged to several countries, including the Duchy of Polatsk, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and the Russian Empire. In 1939, modern borders of the ethnically Belarusian lands were created after being annexed by the USSR and attached to Soviet Belarus. The territory and its nation were devastated in World War II, during which Belarus lost about a quarter of its population and more than half of its economic resources.

After seven decades Belarus gained its independence on August 25, 1991. Nevertheless it has retained closer political and economic ties with Russia than any other former soviet states. Alexandr Lukashenko, the country's first president, has steadily consolidated his power through authoritarian means since his election in 1994.

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  Creative Commons image by "CIA World Factbook"

• Wikipedia: Geography of Belarus

• Gomel.lk.net: Belarusian Maps

• Belarus Today: Belarus Geography

• CafePress: Belarus Stickers, Buttons & Fun Stuff

• NatureTrek: Wildlife Holidays in Belarus

• Byelorussian Straw: Straw Weaving History and Merchandise

• EarthCam: Belarus WebCams

• wwiTV: Watch TV from Belarus

• tvr.by: National TV and Radio Company of the Republic of Belarus

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