Minsk Province (Belarus)

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 is Minsk, 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, 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 (8th largest), Myadel (11th largest), Syalyava (14th largest) and Myastro (15th largest). It is the only region of Belarus 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', the Principality of Polotsk, and later it was included in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. With the unification of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of Poland, the territory became part of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.

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 due to the Civil War, the western part was annexed to Poland in 1921, while the east became Soviet Belarus.

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 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.

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, were added to the Minsk Region.

In 1960, following the abolition of Molodechno Region, 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 and Silichi.

Administrative subdivisions

The Minsk Region comprises 22 districts (raions), 307 selsovets, 22 cities, 8 city municipalities, and 20 urban-type settlements.

Districts of Minsk Region

* Barysaw District
* Byerazino District
* Chervyen District
* Dzyarzhynsk District
* Kapyl District
* Kletsk District
* Krupki District
* Lahoysk District
* Lyuban District
* Maladzyechna District
* Minsk District
* Myadzyel District
* Nesvizh District
* Puchavičy District
* Salihorsk District
* Slutsk District
* Smalyavichy District
* Staryya Darohi District
* Stowbtsy District
* Uzda District
* Valozhyn District
* Vileyka District

Cities and towns

Population of cities and towns in Minsk Region

Demographics

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

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