Belarus, Landlocked nation in Eastern Europe.
Belarus sits between Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia and Ukraine, covering roughly 80,200 square miles (207,600 square kilometers) across the eastern portion of the European continent. The capital Minsk forms the largest urban center, home to approximately two million people.
The territory belonged to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from the 14th century before Russian control began in 1795 through the partition of the Polish-Lithuanian union. Following the Soviet era, independence arrived in 1991.
The Belarusian State Ballet has maintained its standing as one of the leading classical ballet companies in the region since Soviet times, performing regularly at the Bolshoi Theatre in Minsk.
Entry rules require visas for most foreign visitors, though some European and Asian nationals may enter without one through Minsk National Airport when staying no longer than 30 days. The local currency is the Belarusian ruble, exchangeable at bureaus in larger cities.
The National Bank issued a one-ruble coin in 2016 featuring an embedded QR code linking to a website with information about the depicted Minsk Gate, creating a rare global connection between physical and digital currency.
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