Minsk is the
capital of the Republic of Belarus, its political, economic, cultural
and scientific center. It is an ancient city and dates back to the 11th
century. There is one version of how it came into being. Gleb
Vseslavovich took proposition of Minsk from his father and made it the
capital of an independent Principality. There are certain proofs that it
was a flourishing commercial center located at the crossroads of the
traditional trade rout from east to west and from north to south.
Minsk
is situated on the river Svisloch and occupies an area of 200 square
kilometers. Its population is about 2 million people. During the Great
Patriotic War Minsk was destroyed by German invaders almost completely.
Minsk lay in ruins. The people of Belarus rebuilt the city. Victory
Square, the Eternal Flame at the monument commemorates soldiers,
underground fighters, partisans who fell in the battles for freedom f
our motherland. The names of many streets of the city commemorate many
heroes.