Minsk Region or Minsk Oblast or Minsk Voblasts ( be, Мі́нская во́бласць, ''Minskaja voblasć'' ; russian: Минская о́бласть, ''Minskaya oblast'') is one of the
regions of Belarus
At the top level of administration, Belarus is divided into six ''oblasts'' (''voblasts'' or provinces). The city of Minsk, has a special status as the capital of Belarus. Minsk is also the capital of Minsk Region.administrative center
An administrative center is a seat of regional administration or local government, or a county town, or the place where the central administration of a commune
A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or ...
is
Minsk
Minsk ( be, Мінск ; russian: Минск) is the capital and the largest city of Belarus, located on the Svislach and the now subterranean Niamiha rivers. As the capital, Minsk has a special administrative status in Belarus and is the admi ...
, although it is a separate administrative territorial entity of Belarus. As of 2011, the region's population is 1,411,500.
Geography
Minsk Region covers a total of 39,900 km², about 19.44% of the national total area.
Lake Narach
Lake Narach ( be, На́рач, ''Narač'' ; russian: На́рочь, ''Naročj''; lt, Narutis, pl, Narocz) is a lake in north-western Belarus ( Myadzyel District, Minsk Region), located in the basin of the Viliya river. It is the largest lake ...
, the largest lake in the country, is located in the northern part of the region. There are four other large lakes in this region:
Svir
The Svir (, Veps: , Karelian/Finnish: ) is a river in Podporozhsky, Lodeynopolsky, and Volkhovsky districts in the north-east of Leningrad Oblast, Russia. It flows westwards from Lake Onega to Lake Ladoga, thus connecting the two largest ...
(8th largest), Myadel (11th largest), Syalyava (14th largest) and Myastro (15th largest). It is the only region of
Belarus
Belarus,, , ; alternatively and formerly known as Byelorussia (from Russian ). officially the Republic of Belarus,; rus, Республика Беларусь, Respublika Belarus. is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by R ...
whose border is not part of the international border of Belarus.
History
Beginning the 10th century, the territory of the current Minsk Region was part of
Kievan Rus'
Kievan Rusʹ, also known as Kyivan Rusʹ ( orv, , Rusĭ, or , , ; Old Norse: ''Garðaríki''), was a state in Eastern and Northern Europe from the late 9th to the mid-13th century.John Channon & Robert Hudson, ''Penguin Historical Atlas of ...
, the
Principality of Polotsk
The Principality of Polotsk ( be, По́лацкае кня́ства, ''Polackaje kniastva''; la, Polocensis Ducatus), also known as the Duchy of Polotsk or Polotskian Rus', was a medieval principality of the Early East Slavs. The origin and ...
, and later it was included in the
Grand Duchy of Lithuania
The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a European state that existed from the 13th century to 1795, when the territory was partitioned among the Russian Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia, and the Habsburg Empire of Austria. The state was founded by Li ...
. With the unification of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the
Kingdom of Poland
The Kingdom of Poland ( pl, Królestwo Polskie; Latin: ''Regnum Poloniae'') was a state in Central Europe. It may refer to:
Historical political entities
*Kingdom of Poland, a kingdom existing from 1025 to 1031
*Kingdom of Poland, a kingdom exist ...
, the territory became part of the
Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, formally known as the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and, after 1791, as the Commonwealth of Poland, was a bi-confederal state, sometimes called a federation, of Crown of the Kingdom of ...
.
In 1793, as a result of the second partition of Polish territory, the area was annexed by Russia as the Minsk Region. During the collapse of the
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War. ...
due to the Civil War, the western part was annexed to Poland in 1921, while the east became
Soviet Belarus
The Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (BSSR, or Byelorussian SSR; be, Беларуская Савецкая Сацыялістычная Рэспубліка, Bielaruskaja Savieckaja Sacyjalistyčnaja Respublika; russian: Белор ...
.
The Minsk region was established on 15 January, 1938, based on the amendment of the Constitutional Law of the USSR. As of 20 February, 1938, the area included 20 districts. Following the Soviet invasion of Poland on September 17, 1939, the former Eastern lands of the Second Polish Republic were annexed in accordance with the
Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact
, long_name = Treaty of Non-Aggression between Germany and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
, image = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-H27337, Moskau, Stalin und Ribbentrop im Kreml.jpg
, image_width = 200
, caption = Stalin and Ribbentrop shaking ...
partitioning Poland and added to the Minsk Region.
On 20 September 1944, by the decree of the
Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR
The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet (russian: Президиум Верховного Совета, Prezidium Verkhovnogo Soveta) was a body of state power in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).Bobruisk Region
Babruysk, Babrujsk or Bobruisk ( be, Бабруйск , Łacinka: , rus, Бобруйск, Bobrujsk, bɐˈbruɪ̯s̪k, yi, באָברויסק ) is a city in the Mogilev Region of eastern Belarus on the Berezina River. , its population was 2 ...
.
On 8 January, 1954, by the decree of the USSR Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, the Nesvizhski and Stolbtsovsky districts from the abolished Baranovichi Region, as well as the Glusk, Gressky, Kopyl, Krasnoslobodski, Luban, Slutsky, Starobin, Starodorozhski districts and the city of Sluck from the abolished
Bobruisk Region
Babruysk, Babrujsk or Bobruisk ( be, Бабруйск , Łacinka: , rus, Бобруйск, Bobrujsk, bɐˈbruɪ̯s̪k, yi, באָברויסק ) is a city in the Mogilev Region of eastern Belarus on the Berezina River. , its population was 2 ...
, were added to the Minsk Region.
In 1960, following the abolition of
Molodechno Region
Maladzyechna Voblast or Molodechno Oblast ( be, Маладзечанская вобласць, russian: Молодечненская область) was a Voblast of the Byelorussian SSR. Initially the Voblast was formed on December 4, 1939, foll ...
, its southern part became the northern part of the Minsk Region.
Tourism
The number of travel agencies in Minsk Region grew from twelve in 2000 to seventy in 2010. The most popular tourist destinations of the region are Zaslavskoye Lake, the Zhdanovichi area which has health resorts, Nesvizh Palace and its surroundings, as well as the alpine ski resorts of
Logoysk
Lahoysk ( be, Лаго́йск, Lahojsk, ; russian: link=no, Лого́йск, pl, Łohojsk) is a city in the Minsk Region of Belarus and the administrative center of Lahoysk District.
History
First chronicled in 1078, Lahoysk was the centr ...
districts
A district is a type of administrative division that, in some countries, is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or counties, several municipalities, subdivisions o ...
(
raions
A raion (also spelt rayon) is a type of administrative unit of several post-Soviet states. The term is used for both a type of subnational entity and a division of a city. The word is from the French (meaning 'honeycomb, department'), and is co ...
), 307
selsovets
Selsoviet ( be, сельсавет, r=sieĺsaviet, tr. ''sieĺsaviet''; rus, сельсовет, p=ˈsʲelʲsɐˈvʲɛt, r=selsovet; uk, сільрада, silrada) is a shortened name for a rural council and for the area governed by such a cou ...
, 22 cities, 8 city municipalities, and 20
urban-type settlement
Urban-type settlementrussian: посёлок городско́го ти́па, translit=posyolok gorodskogo tipa, abbreviated: russian: п.г.т., translit=p.g.t.; ua, селище міського типу, translit=selyshche mis'koho typu, ab ...
s.
Districts of Minsk Region
*
Barysaw District
Barysaw District ( be, Барысаўскі раён, ''Barysawski rajon'') is a district of Minsk Region, Belarus. Its capital is the town of Barysaw.
Notable residents
Ivan Yermachenka
Ivan Yermachenka ( be, Іван Ермачэнка) (la ...
*
Byerazino District
Byerazino District is a second-level administrative district of Minsk Region, Belarus. The capital of the town is Byerazino.
Notable residents
* Mikola Ravienski (1886 - 1953), Belarusian composer, conductor and music critic, author of the musi ...
*
Chervyen District
Chervyen District is a second-level administrative subdivision (raion) of Minsk Region, Belarus. The capital of the town is Chervyen.
Notable residents
* Ibrahim Kanapacki (1949, Smilavičy town– 2005), Belarusian Lipka Tatar
The Lipka ...
*
Dzyarzhynsk District
Dzyarzhynsk District is one of the districts of Belarus, located in Minsk Oblast, Belarus. The capital of the town is Dzyarzhynsk. In Dzyarzhynsk Raion (Dzerzhinsky district) the highest point of Belarus is situated. It is 345 meters above level s ...
*
Kapyl District
Kapyl District is a second-level administrative subdivision (raion) of Minsk Region, Belarus. The capital of the town is Kapyl.
Notable events in history
The district was the main theatre of military operations during the Slutsk uprising, a pr ...
*
Kletsk District
Kletsk District is a district of Minsk Region, Belarus. Its capital is the town of Kletsk.Kletsk raion page at Mi ...
Lahoysk District
Lahoysk District ( be, Лаго́йскi раён, pronounced ʌˈɣɔɪskɪ rʌɪon russian: Логойский район, English: Logoisk District) is a second-level administrative subdivision (raion) of Minsk Region, Belarus. Its capital is ...
*
Lyuban District
Lyuban District (Lyubanski rayon, Lyubansky raion) is a district of Minsk Region, Belarus. The capital of the district is Lyuban.
Notable residents
* Władysław Syrokomla
Ludwik Władysław Franciszek Kondratowicz (29 September 1823 ...
*
Maladzyechna District
Maladzyechna District ( be, Маладзечанскі раён, ''Maładziečanski rajon'') is a second-level administrative subdivision (raion) of Minsk Region, Belarus. The capital of the town is Maladziečna.
Geography
;Main settlements
*Mala ...
Myadzyel District
Myadzel District ( be, Мядзельскі раён, ''Miadzielski rajon'') is a second-level administrative subdivision (raion) of the Minsk Region, Belarus. Its capital is the town of Myadzyel. Four of the main lakes of Belarus are situated in ...
Puchavičy District
Pukhavichy District (Pukhavichsky Rajon) is a second-level administrative subdivision (raion) of Belarus in the east of Minsk Voblast. The capital of the town is Marjina Horka.
Geography
;Main settlements
*Marjina Horka
Marjina Horka or Maryina ...
Slutsk District
Slutsk District ( be, Слу́цкі раён, russian: Слу́цкий райо́н) is a second-level administrative subdivision (raion) of Belarus in the Minsk Region.
Notable residents
* Alena Kish (1889 or 1896, Ramanava (now Lenina) vi ...
*
Smalyavichy District
Smalyavichy District ( be, Смалявіцкі раён, Smalavicki rajon; russian: Смолевичский район, Smolevičskij raion) is a second-level administrative subdivision (raion) of Belarus in Minsk Region. Its seat is the town of ...
Stowbtsy District
Stowbtsy District ( be, Стаўбцоўскі раён; russian: Столбцовский район) is a second-level administrative subdivision (raion) of Belarus in the Minsk Region.
Notable residents
Jazep Losik (1884, Mikalajeŭščyna v ...
*
Uzda District
Uzda District is a second-level administrative subdivision (raion) of Belarus in the Minsk Region
Minsk Region or Minsk Oblast or Minsk Voblasts ( be, Мі́нская во́бласць, ''Minskaja voblasć'' ; russian: Минская о́бл ...
*
Valozhyn District
Valozhyn District is a second-level administrative subdivision (raion) of Belarus in the Minsk Region
Minsk Region or Minsk Oblast or Minsk Voblasts ( be, Мі́нская во́бласць, ''Minskaja voblasć'' ; russian: Минская о́ ...
Belarusians in Minsk and Minskaja voblasć, Belarus (2009 census).png, Belarusians in the region
Russians in Minsk and Minskaja voblasć, Belarus (2009 census).png, Russians in the region
Poles in Minsk and Minskaja voblasć, Belarus (2009 census).png, Poles in the region
See also
*
Administrative divisions of Belarus
At the top level of administration, Belarus is divided into six ''oblasts'' (''voblasts'' or provinces). The city of Minsk, has a special status as the capital of Belarus. Minsk is also the capital of Minsk Region.Villages in Minsk Region
References
External links
*
*
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Regions of Belarus