Berezina

Berezina, river, east central Belarus, rising in the marshes near the town of Barysaw. The Berezina flows south-east for about 563 km (350 mi) to the Dnepr River, which carries its waters to the Black Sea. The river is connected also with the Baltic Sea by a canal to the Daugava (Western Dvina) River. The Berezina is important commercially, especially for the transport of timber. From November 26 to November 29, 1812, during the retreat of Napoleon's army from Moscow, more than 10,000 French soldiers died under Russian artillery bombardment while crossing the Berezina near Barysaw.