Gomel, Administrative center in southeastern Belarus
Gomel is an administrative center in southeastern Belarus on the banks of the Sozh River, where residential and industrial neighborhoods spread across both sides. The streets are wide and often run in straight lines with parks and public squares along the main boulevards.
A fortress arose here in the 12th century as a border post between Slavic principalities. Later control by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Russian Empire shaped the growth of the settlement into an urban trade center.
The name comes from the Slavic word for hill or raised ground along a river. Local people often speak Russian in daily life and use a mix of Belarusian and Russian expressions in conversation.
The downtown area is easy to walk around, while buses and trolleybuses connect outer neighborhoods with the center. The railway and bus stations sit close together and allow onward travel to Minsk or toward Russian border towns.
A large part of the town was rebuilt after a 1986 nuclear accident and received new housing blocks for resettled families. Several institutes continue long-term studies on environmental effects and health questions in the region.
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