Belarus - Facts for Kids

Basic Information

The official name of Belarus is the Republic of Belarus, which became independent in 1991 after the Soviet Union dissolved.

Minsk is the capital of Belarus and about 2 million people live there — that’s roughly the same as filling 20 big sports stadiums with 100,000 fans each!

Belarus has about 9 million people — that’s a little fewer than the number of people living in the U.S. state of Michigan, which has about 10 million residents!

Belarus is located in Eastern Europe and is surrounded by five countries: Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia.

Belarus has two official languages — Belarusian and Russian — but most people in the country speak Russian every day, and fewer people speak Belarusian often.

The money in Belarus is called the Belarusian ruble. The coins in everyday use show the country’s symbol and pretty designs, and some old or special collector coins do have animals and nature on them.

Belarus is a presidential republic. The president is the head of state and has a lot of power, and he appoints a prime minister to help run the government, but the president really leads how the government works.

The flag of Belarus is red and green with a special traditional pattern on the left side. The pattern comes from old Belarusian art and shows the country’s cultural heritage and history!

The national anthem of Belarus is called "My Belarusy," which means "We Belarusians" in English.

The European bison (or wisent) is one of Belarus’s national animals. It’s the biggest wild land mammal in Europe — big and heavy, sometimes about as heavy as a small car!

Belarus has a continental climate — winters are cold, often around −20°C (−4°F) on very cold days, and summers are warm, with temperatures often near 24°C (75°F)!

Belarus celebrates its Independence Day on July 3rd, which commemorates the liberation of Minsk from Nazi occupation during World War II in 1944.

Geography & Nature

Belarus is a landlocked country, which means it doesn't have any coastline or beaches along an ocean or sea.

The highest point in Belarus is Mount Dzyarzhynskaya — a hill about 345 meters (1,130 ft) high. It’s not a huge mountain, but it’s the tallest place in the country!

About 40% of Belarus is covered in forests, making it one of the most forested countries in Europe.

Belarus has lots of water — more than 20,000 rivers and about 11,000 lakes! The biggest lake is Lake Narach, and it’s about 31 square miles (80 km²) in size!

The Dnieper River flows from Russia through Belarus and Ukraine to the Black Sea, and it is one of the longest rivers in Europe (about 2,200 km or 1,370 miles long). In Belarus, it’s the longest river that runs through the country!

Belavezhskaya Pushcha National Park is one of the oldest forests in Europe, and in some parts you can find very old trees — including oak and pine trees that are as old as 400–600 years!

Belarus has four national parks that protect special plants and animals. In one of them — Belavezhskaya Pushcha — scientists helped save the rare European bison, which was almost lost from the wild long ago!

The Pripyat River in southern Belarus flows through the Pripyat Marshes, which is one of the largest wetland areas in Europe and home to many rare birds.

Belarus has over 70 different types of mammals living in its forests, including wolves, lynx, beavers, and wild boars.

In Belarus, the stork is a beloved bird. Many people believe that if a stork builds its nest on your roof, it will bring happiness, good luck, and harmony to your family.

The area of Belarus is 80,153 square miles (207,595 square kilometers), which is about the same size as the state of Kansas in the United States.

Belarus has very flat land with many swamps and marshes, especially in the southern part of the country, where some areas flood every spring.

Culture & Traditions

Belarusian children celebrate a holiday called Maslenitsa before Easter, where they eat lots of pancakes and burn a straw figure to say goodbye to winter.

Old‑fashioned Belarusian clothes for women included embroidered blouses, wrap‑around skirts with aprons, colorful woven belts, and special headscarves or headpieces. People dressed like that for festivals and celebrations — but it wasn’t always a “sleeveless dress with straps” like a sarafan.

Belarusian traditional music often uses special instruments like the tsymbaly (a string instrument played with small hammers) and the dudka (a wooden flute).

Belarusian people are famous for making beautiful straw artwork, including dolls, decorations, and mobiles that they hang in their homes for good luck.

One of the most unforgettable characters from Slavic folk tales (including stories told in Belarus) is Baba Yaga — a magical old woman who lives in a hut on chicken legs deep in the forest!

During the celebration of Kupala Night (also known as Ivan Kupala) on June 21st, Belarusian children jump over bonfires and search for a magical fern flower.

The vyshyvanka is a special embroidered shirt worn in Belarus that has patterns and symbols that are believed to protect the wearer from bad luck.

Belarus has many fun traditional dances — one very famous one called Bulba (potato) shows people planting and harvesting potatoes through lively steps!

Many Belarusian homes are decorated with rushniks, which are embroidered towels with special symbols that are hung on walls for decoration and good fortune.

Food & Daily Life

The national dish of Belarus is draniki, which are potato pancakes often served with sour cream that children and adults both love to eat.

Belarusians love potatoes — they are a big part of their food! There are over 300 different potato dishes in Belarusian cuisine, so people sometimes jokingly call Belarus “the land of potatoes” because they eat and cook so many potato recipes!

A popular Belarusian soup is called khaladnik, which is a cold beet soup that is bright pink in color and perfect for hot summer days.

In Belarus, it's traditional to welcome guests with bread and salt, which symbolizes hospitality and friendship.

In Belarus, children usually go to school Monday through Friday. Their day often starts around 8 AM and goes until the early afternoon.

Many Belarusian families have a tradition of gathering mushrooms and berries in the forest during summer and autumn, which they use for cooking or preserve for winter.

In Belarusian cities, many people live in apartment buildings and use public transportation like buses, trams, and the Minsk Metro to get around.

In Belarus, lots of families like to spend weekends and holidays at their country homes called dachas.

History & Heritage

The oldest city in Belarus is Polotsk, which was first mentioned in historical records in the year 862, over 1,150 years ago!

Mir Castle in Belarus is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was built in the 16th century and looks like it came straight out of a fairy tale with its pink walls and tall towers.

One of Belarus's most famous historical figures is Francysk Skaryna, who printed the first book in the Belarusian language in 1517, more than 500 years ago.

Ancient Belarusians created beautiful patterns called "ornaments" that they used to decorate their clothes, houses, and tools, and many of these patterns are still used today.

The Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which included much of present-day Belarus, was one of the largest states in Europe during the 14th and 15th centuries.

Belarus suffered greatly during World War II when about 25% of its population died and many cities and villages were destroyed.

The Brest Fortress in Belarus became famous for its brave defense against Nazi forces in 1941, and it's now an important memorial site visited by thousands of people each year.

Archaeologists have found evidence that people lived in what is now Belarus at least 24,000 years ago.

Marc Chagall, one of the most famous artists of the 20th century, was born in Vitebsk, Belarus, and his colorful paintings often show scenes from his childhood there.