The Republic of Belarus as an independent sovereign state appeared on the geographical map not long ago – in 1991 and that is why for many people Belarus is still in some way “terra incognita”, though it is situated in the centre of the European continent. It is the land of blue lakes and green forests, meadows poured with sunlight and vast fields, the land where calm rivers flow.

The population of Belarus is more than 10 million among which mainly are the Belarussians and also the Russians, the Polish, the Ukrainians, the Jews, representatives of other nationalities. Belarus occupies the territory of 207 600square kilometers and borders on Russia in the north and in the east, on Ukraine – in the south, on Poland – in the west, on Lithuania and Latvia – in the north-west. The size of the territory of the republic takes 13th place in Europe which is equal to the size of the territory of Great Britain, Romania.

The territory of the republic is divided into six regions, each of them is also divided into areas, cities and other administrative and territorial units. Regional centers of the Republic of Belarus are the following cities: Minsk, Gomel, Vitebsk, Mogilev, Grodno, Brest. Already 8 cities have the population about 100 000 people. In Minsk – in the capital of the Republic of Belarus – lives approximately 1,7 mln people.

The climate of the republic is moderately continental, humid. The average temperature in January is 6 C and in July is +18 C. The annual rainfall in Belarus is 550-700 mm.

As regards religion belarussian people can be referred to eastern and western branches of Christianity. Being situated on the way from Europe to Asia, from varangians to greeks, Belarus has always been a sugar lump for different invaders. Many times the country faced different wars which carried away many lives. But nevertheless the Belarussians survived and destroyed cities and villages were rebuilt on sites of fire.

Many realias of belarussian culture have become the symbols of national originality. Slutsk belts, multicoloured “tile” and fretwork, the cross of Efrosinya Polotskaya, Mark Shagal’s painting and belarussian ballet are well-known masterpieces of belarussian culture which are known all over the world.

Special attention is paid to the development of international tourist relations in Belarus. The country has the potential for the development. The republic has a wide network of modern roads. In its capital Minsk and in other big cities high standard hotels and restaurants are built. Numerous theatres, museums, sports buildings function nowadays. Belarussian citizens’ tourist tours abroad and reception of tourists in Belarus began in the end of 1950th. Since 1990 international tourism became one of the form of foreign economic activity. More than 350 tourist companies are involved in this sphere.

Tourists who visited Belarus have unforgettable impressions about Lake Naroch and Byelovezhskaya Pushcha, beauty of Sophia Cathedral in Polotsk, about medieval Mir castle and about many other monuments of history and culture.