Belarus (Belorussia), Republic of Belarus

VOCABULARY

сrossroads - перехрестя

to connect – сполучати, з’єднувати

shallow ['æl] - мілкий

strait [streit]– протока

coast [kst]- берег

length [le]- довжина

total - загальний

to consist of – складатися з

terrain [t'rein] – місцевість, територія

flat – рівний, рівнина

to contain [kn'tein] містити

to make up - складати

marsh [m:] land - болотиста місцевість

ancient ['en()nt]– стародавній, старовинний

ties[ tais]– зв’язки

to exceed [ik'si:d] – перевищувати

currency ['kernsi]– валюта

to be washed by- омиватиcя

to connect – сполучати, з’єднувати

landmark ['lændm:k] - архітектурний пам'ятник

temporary ['temp()rri]тимчасовий

to dismantle [ds'mæntl] руйнувати, зносити

enduring [in'dju()ri] стійкий, безсмертний

observation [bz'vei()n] спостереження

restored [ri'st:d] відновлений

archives [':kavz] архів

landlocked ['lændlkt] оточений сушею

enclave ['enkleiv] територія, оточена з усіх боків володіннями іншої держави

church [:] церква

successive [sk'sesiv] послідовний

annually ['ænjl] щорічно

Russia (the Russian Federation)

Russia is located in the eastern part of Europe and in the northern part of Asia. It is the biggest country in the world as for its territory (17,075,200 sq km). Russia borders on Finland, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Belorus, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia, North Korea, Lithuania and Poland (Kaliningrad Oblast). This huge country is washed by the Arctic Ocean in the north and by the Pacific Ocean in the east. The population of Russia is 143,782,338. It consists of 81% Russians and more than 100 different nationalities. President is a chief of the state. The capital of Russia is Moscow. There are 49 oblasts, 21 republics, 10 autonomous okrugs and 6 krays. There are about 1091 towns and 1922 small towns in Russia, among them, with the population exceeding 1 million: Saint Petersburg, Nyzhni Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Ekaterinburg, Ufa, Kazan and others. The biggest rivers are: Lena, Irtysh,Volga. Bicameral Federal Assembly stands for legislative branch of Russia. The national currency of Russia is Russian ruble.

Belarus (Belorussia), Republic of Belarus

Belarus is situated in the east of Europe in the basin of the rivers: Dnieper, Zapadnaya Dvina, Neman and Bug. Its territory is 207,600 sq km. It borders upon Russia, Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. It is landlocked. The population of the country is 10 320, 81% of it are Belarusian, 11.4% - Russian, 7% - Polish, Ukrainian and others. The official language is Belarusian. As for the government type it is a Presidential republic, therefore the chief of the state is the President. The country is divided into 6 regions (voblasti) and one municipality of Minsk. The major cities are Slutsk, Gomel, Vitebsk, Brest. The national currency is Belarusian ruble. Belarus has close political and economic ties with Russia. Belarus has four World Heritage Sites: the Mir Castle Complex, the Nesvizh Castle, the Belovezhskaya Pushcha (shared with Poland), and the Struve Geodetic Arc (shared with nine other countries).

Poland (the Republic of Poland)

Poland, officially the Republic of Poland is a country in Central Europe, bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north. The total area of Poland is 312,679 square kilometres. Poland has a population of over 38.5 million people. Poland is a major part of the global tourism market and is currently experiencing an upward trend in its number of visitors; this began shortly after joining the European Union. Tourism in Poland contributes to the country's overall economy and makes up a relatively large proportion of the country's service market. The most attractive urban destinations for tourists are Kraków, Wrocaw, Gdask, Warsaw, Pozna, Lublin. Popular areas of natural beauty include north Poland's Baltic Sea coast, Masurian Lake District and Biaowiea Forest, in southern Karkonosze, Table Mountains, Tatra Mountains and Bieszczady Mountains.

Poland's main tourist offerings are thought to be based around city-sightseeing and extra-urban historical monuments, business trips, qualified tourism, agrotourism, mountain hiking and climbing among others.

Moldova (the Republic of Moldova)

Moldova is located in the South-Eastern Europe, mainly between two rivers: the Prut and the Dnister. The area of Moldova is 33,700 sq km. It borders upon Romania in the west (the border comes along the Prut river) and in the east and south – upon Ukraine. So the Capriana Monastery country is landlocked. The population of Moldova is 4, 446, 455. Its national composition is the following: Moldovan (Romanian 64.5%, Ukrainian 13.8%, Russian 13%). 98% of them are Eastern Orthodox. Moldova has single-chamber Parliament. President is a chief of the state. Although independent from the USSR since 1991, Russian forces have remained on Moldovan territory east of the Dnister River supporting the Slavic majority population, mostly Ukrainian and Russians, who have proclaimed a “Transnistria” republic. Chisinau is the capital of Moldova. It has 9 counties, 1 municipality and 1 autonomous territorial unit. The national currency of Moldova is Moldovan leu.

Slavania (Slovak Republic)

The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about 49,000 square kilometres (19,000 sq mi). Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south. The largest city is the capital, Bratislava. Slovakia features natural landscapes, mountains, caves, medieval castles and towns, folk architecture, spas and ski resorts. More than 1.6 million people visited Slovakia in 2006, and the most attractive destinations are the capital of Bratislava and the High Tatras. Typical souvenirs from Slovakia are dolls dressed in folk costumes, ceramic objects, crystal glass, carved wooden.

Romania

Romania is located in the Southern Europe in the basin of the lower Danube. It controls most easily traversable land route between the Balkans, Moldova, Serbia and Montenegro, Ukraine. The territory of this state is 237,500 sq km. The population is more than 22 mln people. 89,5 % of the population are Romanian, 6,6 % Hungarian, 2,5 % Roma. 87% of the population are Eastern Orthodox believers. Romanian is the official language of the state. Bucharest is the capital of Romania. In the East its coast is washed by the Black Sea. Romania is a republic with a President as a chief of the state. It has two-chamber Parliament and 41 countries. The national currency is the leu. The list of World Heritage Sites includes Romanian sites such as the Saxon villages with fortified churches in Transylvania, the Painted churches of northern Moldavia with their fine exterior and interior frescoes, Palace Castle, built between 1873–1914, is considered one of the most beautiful castles in Romania and Eastern Europe.Unique architecture and gold gilded rooms attract thousands of visitors daily. Bran Castle is a major national monument and tourist landmark. Built by Saxons in the 14th century, today it hosts an art and furniture collection by Queen Marie, but is also marketed as the legendary residence of Bram Stoker's Dracula.

Hungary (The Republic of Hungary)

Hungary is situated in the Central Europe. It has strategic location astride main land routes between Western Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as between Ukraine and Mediterranean basin. The country is landlocked, it occupies 93 thousand sq km, but it has access to the Black Sea by means of the Danube. It borders on Austria, Croatia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine. The population of this state is more 10 mln, 89,9 % of them are Hungarians. 67,5 % of the Hungarian population are Roman Catholics, 20% Calvinists, 5 % Lutherans. The capital of Hungary is Budapest. Hungary is parliamentary democracy. President is a head of the state. Its Parliament has only one chamber. There are 19 countries. It joined NATO in 1999 and the EU in 2004, so the national currency is euro. Hungary has an income one-half of the Big Four European nations. Hungary is home to the largest synagogue in Europe (Great Synagogue), the largest medicinal bath in Europe, one of the largest basilicas in Europe (Esztergom Basilica), the second largest territorial abbey in the world (Pannonhalma Archabbey), and the largest Early Christian Necropolis outside Italy (Pécs).