Minsk is an independent territorial unit of Belarus with a special status as the capital of the republic. In addition, it is the administrative center of the region and district. Hero City, a major scientific, economic and political center, as well as the cultural capital of Belarus.
The area of Minsk is 348 square meters. km The city is divided into 9 administrative-territorial units - districts.
First mention
The first mention that on the banks of the river. Svisloch is inhabited by small settlements dating back to the 9th century. In the river valley are two Slavic tribes - Dregovichi and Krivichi. A description of the city and the activities of its first princes can be found in The Tale of Bygone Years. At one time, the city of Menesk (the ancient name of modern Minsk) was part of the Principality of Polotsk, was part of Kievan Rus, existed as a separate administrative unit. After the Mongol-Tatars attacked Kievan Rus, Minsk was under the protection of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, then it was part of the Commonwealth. And after its division at the end of the 18th century, it passed to the Russian Empire. A new Minsk province was formed, the capital of which was the city of Minsk. In Soviet times, Minsk was the capital of the Byelorussian SSR. And after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the republic became an independent state. The capital of Belarus has not changed.
Name and geographical location
The very origin of the name is most often attributed to the river Menka that previously flowed on these lands. Translated from the Finnish-Ugric dialect - “small river”.
Geographically, the city is located on a hill of moraine origin, which developed even during the Sozh glaciation (220 thousand years ago). The average height of the plain is 220 m, the highest point of the city is 283 m.
Climatic conditions
The capital of Belarus lies in a temperate climate, there is a clear change of seasons. Weather and climate are largely influenced by air masses from the Atlantic. The average annual rainfall - 700-800 mm - is distributed evenly throughout the year. Average July temperatures are +18 ... + 20 ° . Summer is moderately warm, humid and not hot. The average January temperatures are -4 ... -5 ° . Winter is mild, often there are thaws.
Population
Almost 2 million people live in Minsk. In recent years, there is a tendency to increase the number of people. By the national composition, the vast majority (75%) are Belarusians. In smaller numbers in the capital live: Ukrainians, Russians, Poles, Turkmens, Jews, Lithuanians. There are also small agglomerations of Turks, Arabs, Georgians, Moldavians, Gypsies. The majority of the population living in Minsk profess Orthodox Christianity.
The value of Minsk
The capital of Belarus bears the title “Hero City”. It is worth noting that it is in this locality that the headquarters of the Commonwealth of Independent States is located. In Europe, Minsk ranks 10th in terms of population. And according to this criterion in the EAEU - 3 position.
The capital of the Republic of Belarus is a large industrial center of the country. It develops in diverse industries, of which the most popular are: food and light industry, automobile and tractor manufacturing, metalworking and instrument making.
In addition, Minsk is a powerful educational center. The largest state educational institutions of the state are concentrated here, a total of 23 universities. More than half of the students of Belarus study in them.
The cultural sphere, which attracts tourists to Minsk, is also extensively developed. The capital of Belarus has 13 museums, 10 theaters, more than 3,500 sports facilities (sports grounds, stadiums, tennis courts, ski slopes).
Transport
The city has a well-developed transport system. All this is due to the fact that Minsk is a crossing point between Russia, Poland, Ukraine and the Baltic states, the so-called transport corridor. The city has a subway and one airport.
Tourism
The capital of Belarus will be interesting in terms of tourism. Of the sights, Victory Square and Independence Avenue, Trinity Suburb, the National Library, numerous temples and churches are especially popular. It is necessary to visit this city without fail, at least because of various cultural buildings. They fully reflect the history of Belarus and will be useful to many travelers.