Belarus — Capital, Flag and Country Facts

Explore Belarus: capital Minsk, population, flag, geography, languages, history and culture.

Belarus is in Europe. Its capital is Minsk.

Climate

Continental with cold winters and cool, moist summers; transitional between maritime and continental

Generally flat with extensive marshlands; low hills and uplands in the center

Belarus has Europe's largest remaining primeval forest, Białowieża, home to European bison.

Belarus is sometimes called the "lungs of Europe" because about 40% of the country is forested.

Minsk has been destroyed and rebuilt at least 18 times throughout its history.

1067: First recorded mention of Minsk in historical chronicles

1569: Belarus becomes part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth

1795: Third Partition of Poland brings Belarus under Russian rule

1919: Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic established

1986: Chernobyl disaster severely contaminates large areas of Belarus

1991: Belarus declares independence from the Soviet Union