II.

Land and Resources

Belarus consists largely of flat lowlands interspersed by low hills and uplands. The Belorussian Ridge, formed during the Pleistocene Epoch, extends north-east from the Polish frontier, north of Brest, to the north of Minsk, where it broadens into the Minsk Upland. On either side of the ridge lie the lowlands; to the south is the Central Berezina Plain, which is drained by the River Pripyat and its tributaries, and to the north the Polatsk Lowland, with the Neman Lowland east of Hrodna. The Belavezhskaya Forest Nature Reserve, north of Brest, in south-west Belarus, is the largest primeval forest in Europe, extending across the Polish border with a substantial proportion of its area lying in Belarus. The Belavezhskaya Forest was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1992, and was given the status of a biosphere reserve in 1993 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The environment has been affected by soil pollution from pesticide use and in the southern part of the country by the Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident in neighbouring Ukraine in 1986.

A.

Rivers and Lakes

The republic has more than 10,000 lakes and many streams and rivers. Notable rivers are the Daugava in the north, the Neman in the west, and the Dnepr and its tributaries—the Pripyat, Beregina, and Sozh rivers—in the east, central, and southern portions of the country. The climate is generally temperate and humid, with colder, continental conditions dominant in the east. Braslau Lakes National Park contains 31 lakes with a total surface area of some 113 sq km (43 sq mi) in the vicinity of the small north-western town of Braslau. The park, which occupies an area of approximately 71,500 hectares (176,500 acres) was established in 1995.

B.

Climate

The climate is continental with moderating marine influences affecting the north-east. Average January temperatures range from -8° C (18° F) in the north-east to -4° C (25° F) in the south-west, with maximum July temperatures in the range 17-19° C (63-66° F). Annual rainfall averages 533 mm (21 in) on the plains area and 711 mm (28 in) on higher ground.

C.

Natural Resources

Mineral resources in the republic are not abundant with the exception of deposits of potassium salts, which are considered to be the second largest in Europe and are used in fertilizer manufacture. There are some deposits of oil and natural gas, but they are not fully exploited. The disaster at Chernobyl seriously affected the utilization of peat reserves, as radioactive contamination has made peat unsafe for incineration and agricultural use.

D.

Plants and Animals

Forests cover about 30 per cent of the land area. Pine, fir, and birch predominate in the north, and oak, elm, and white beech are prevalent in the south. Wild boar and elk can be found in the forests, while beaver are abundant in the wetlands. Wisents (European bison), once plentiful in Belarus, are now endangered and protected by government decree. The largest herd of bison in Europe, amounting to some 300 head, is in the Belavezhskaya Forest.

E.

Environmental Concerns

The cities of Belarus are heavily polluted, especially industrial centres such as Salihorsk and Navapolatsk, largely because of the development of heavy industries in the years following World War II. Motor vehicle exhausts account for about half the air pollution in the cities. While Belarus was a part of the USSR, government controls on industrial pollution were virtually non-existent. In recent years the government has turned its attention to the problem, although somewhat belatedly. Energy conservation and recycling have yet to be implemented in any sustained manner.

The most serious environmental problem in Belarus is the contamination from the Chernobyl nuclear power station in northern Ukraine. More than 60 per cent of the high-level radioactive fallout of caesium, strontium, and plutonium that was spewed into the atmosphere landed in Belarus, affecting about one-fifth of its territory and more than two million of its people. Long-lived radioisotopes then settled in the soil, posing a long-term danger to groundwater, livestock, and produce. More than 160,000 Belorussians were evacuated from their homes in the most heavily contaminated regions of Homel, Mahilyow, and Brest. In the villages in the contaminated zones, food and other goods are now in short supply and radiation-linked diseases are on the rise.

Belarus is an extensively wooded country but little of the country's woodland is protected; in total, 4.2 per cent of Belarus's land area is protected. Biodiversity, soil pollution, and other related issues are areas of concern. The government has ratified international environmental agreements pertaining to air pollution, biodiversity, environmental modification, marine dumping, nuclear test ban, and ozone layer protection.