Belarus
Capital
Minsk
Population
~9.3 million
Currency
Belarusian Ruble (BYN)
Quick Facts
- Languages
- Belarusian, Russian
- Religion
- Eastern Orthodox Christianity
- Climate
- Continental; cold winters and cool summers
Culture & History
Known for: being the last dictatorship in Europe, vast forests, and an IT outsourcing hub
Also famous for: World War II history, tractors, and potato dishes
Food: Draniki (potato pancakes)
Brief History
Part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth; part of the Soviet Union; independent since 1991; close ties with Russia