Physical Geography

Virtually all of Belarus' surface features are flat to rolling and were formed by debris from melting glaciers during the last Ice Age. The most prominent feature is the Minsk Uplands, a ridge 700 to 1,100 feet (213 to 335 m) high extending northeast-southwest across the central part of the republic. In the south are extensive marshes, largest of which are the Pripyat, or Pinsk, Marshes. Principal rivers are the Dnieper, Neman, Pripyat, and Western Dvina. There are numerous small lakes in many areas. About 30 per cent of Belarus is covered by forests.

The climate is marked by short, cool summers and long, cold winters. Minsk, for example, has an average January temperature of 21° F. (–6° C.) and an average July temperature of 66° F. (19° C). Annual rainfall averages 20 to 28 inches (510 to 710 mm), depending on location, and is evenly distributed throughout the year.