1. Let’s talk about the Republic of Belarus. What do you know about our country? The Republic of Belarus is a small, beautiful country. It is situated in Eastern Europe. The Republic borders on Russia, the Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. It has a population of more than 10 million. The largest cities are Minsk (the capital), Gomel, Brest, Vitebsk, Grodno and Mogilev. Belarus is a land of vast plains and picturesque hills, thick forests and green meadows, deep blue lakes and flowing rivers. One third of the republic's territory is covered with forests. The largest of them are called pushchas. The longest rivers are the Dnieper, the Nieman, the Western Dvina, the Pripyat and the Bug. The largest of the lakes is the Naroch, the pride of the republic. It is very popular recreation area in our country. 2. Do you know any symbols of our country? I should say that there are official and non-official symbols of my country. The National Flag of the Republic of Belarus, the National Emblem of the Republic of Belarus and the National Anthem of the Republic of Belarus are official symbols of Belarus. The most widely known symbols of Belarus are a bison, a stork and a cornflower. 3. What questions about Belarus do you expect to hear from a British teenager? - What is the most beautiful city in Belarus? - What is your country famous for? - How many people live here? - Have you got any national symbols (customs and traditions)? 4. What Belarusian sights would you advise a foreigner to visit? Belarus is a unique country which is known for its rich and colourful heritage and culture. Places, people, myths and legends all come together to tell us stories that fascinate and inspire. I will advise to visit Lida, Mir, Nesvizh Castles. It’s impossible to visit the country and not to visit its capital. That’s why Minsk would also be an interesting point in your route. Such places as Polotsk and Vitebsk are connected with certain events and names. Our famous Belarusian guides will tell a lot of interesting things about the history of our country. 5. What sights in our country belong to world heritage? Belarus has four World Heritage Sites, with two of them being shared between Belarus and its neighboring countries. The four are: the Mir Castle Complex; the Nesvizh Castle; the Belovezhskaya Pushcha (shared with Poland); and the Struve Geodetic Arc (shared with Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Moldova, Russia, Sweden and Ukraine).

1. Let’s talk about the Republic of Belarus. What do you know about our country?

The Republic of Belarus is a small but beautiful country situated in Eastern Europe. It borders on five countries: Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. The population of Belarus is about 10 million people. The capital of the country is Minsk, which is also the largest city. Other large cities are Gomel, Brest, Vitebsk, Grodno and Mogilev.

Belarus is famous for its beautiful nature. There are vast plains, picturesque hills, green meadows, deep lakes and many rivers. About one third of the country is covered with forests. The largest forests are called pushchas. The most famous one is Belovezhskaya Pushcha, which is one of the oldest forests in Europe.

The longest rivers in Belarus are the Dnieper, the Nieman, the Western Dvina, the Pripyat and the Bug. The largest lake is Naroch. It is a very popular place for отдых and tourism because of its beautiful scenery.

2. Do you know any symbols of our country?

Yes, I do. Belarus has official and unofficial symbols. The official symbols are the National Flag, the National Emblem and the National Anthem of the Republic of Belarus.

The flag is red and green with a traditional Belarusian ornament. The emblem shows a map of Belarus, the rising sun and ears of grain, which symbolize peace, prosperity and hard work.

The most famous unofficial symbols of Belarus are the bison, the stork and the cornflower. The bison is a symbol of strength and the beauty of Belarusian nature. The stork is associated with peace, happiness and family. The cornflower is a symbol of the Belarusian fields and culture.

3. What questions about Belarus do you expect to hear from a British teenager?

I think a British teenager may ask many interesting questions about my country. For example:

• What is the most beautiful city in Belarus?

• What is Belarus famous for?

• How many people live in Belarus?

• What national traditions and customs do Belarusians have?

• What places should I visit in your country?

• What traditional food do people eat in Belarus?

4. What Belarusian sights would you advise a foreigner to visit?

I would advise a foreigner to visit many interesting places in Belarus. Our country has a rich history, culture and beautiful landscapes.

First of all, I would recommend visiting Mir Castle and Nesvizh Castle. These are famous historical places with beautiful architecture and interesting stories. Minsk, the capital of Belarus, is also worth visiting because it is a modern city with many museums, parks and historical buildings.

I would also advise visiting Polotsk and Vitebsk. Polotsk is one of the oldest cities in Belarus, and Vitebsk is famous as a cultural centre connected with many artists and historical events.

Another wonderful place is Belovezhskaya Pushcha. It is a unique natural area where visitors can see ancient forests and rare animals, including bison.

5. What sights in our country belong to world heritage?

Belarus has four sites included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

They are:

• The Mir Castle Complex — a beautiful medieval castle and an important historical monument.

• The Nesvizh Castle — a famous palace and park complex that belonged to the Radziwill family.

• Belovezhskaya Pushcha — one of the oldest forests in Europe, which Belarus shares with Poland.

• The Struve Geodetic Arc — a chain of survey points created in the 19th century and shared by several European countries.

These places show the natural beauty, history and cultural importance of Belarus.