White Russian Soviet Socialist Republic, known also as BELORUSSIA, or BYELORUSSIA (modern BELARUS), constituent republic of the Soviet Union, in the w. part of the country, and bounded on the N.W. by the Lithuanian S.S.R. and the Latvian S.S.R., on the N. and E. by the Russian S.F.S.R., on the S.E. and S. by the Ukrainian S.S.R., and on the W. by Poland. For administrative purposes the republic is divided into six oblasts, namely Brest, Gomel, Grodno, Mogilev, Minsk and Vitebsk. Area, 80, 154 sq. mi.

The outstanding topographic features of White Russia are a region of uplands, extending S.W. to N.E. across the republic, and a low plain that occupies most of the area to the S. and E. Elevations in the upland region are relatively low, seldom exceeding 1000 ft. In the southern portion of the plains region are vast tracts of densely forested and sparsely inhabitated swampland known as the Pripet Marshes. Forests, covering about 25 percent of the area of the republic, have valuable stands of elm, maple, oak and white beech. White Russia contains nearly 4000 lakes and is traversed by numerous rivers, notably the Western Dvina in the N. and the Dnieper in the east-central section. Among the chief tributaries  of the Dnieper in White Russia are the Pripyat', which traverses the swamp region the swamp region, the Berezina, and the Sozh. The Bug R. delineates part of the S.W. boundary.

Climatic conditions are generally mild. Mid-winter temperatures average about 20· F., and the average midsummer temperature is about 64· F. Annual precipitation varies between 20 and 27 in.

The population is 9, 003, 000. The capital is Minsk, other leading cities are Gomel, Vitebsk and Mogilev. White Russian, also called Belorussians, comprise about 80 percent of the population of the republic; Russians, Poles, Ukrainians, and Jews comprise most of the remainder. Most of the people belong to the Orthodox Church; a small minority is Roman Catholic. The language, Belorussian, is of East Slavic group and is closely related to Russian.

Education is free and compulsory between the ages of seven and fifteen or sixteen. The more noteworthy cultural centres are located in the city of Minsk and include an art museum, several historic museums, and botanical gardens.

Almost completely destroyed in World War II, White Russia recovered rapidly in the post war period. In recent years new power plants were constructed, and in the early 1970's about 18, 777, 000, 000 kw hours were produced annually. The republic has an extensive system of highways and railways, and, through navigable rivers and Dnieper-Bug canal system, White Russia has access to the Baltic and Black seas.

Industrial production plays an important role in the economy. Industry has increased tremendously since the end of World War II; by the mid-1950's output was three times the level of 1940. In the largest cities, which serve as the industrial centres of the republic, are plants producing building materials, foodstuffs, lumber products, machinery, steel, textiles, and wearing apparel. The production of trucks and tractors was introduced after 1945.

Agriculture is a leading occupation in the republic. In the late 1960's some 3000 state and collective farms were in operation, and more then 15, 000, 000 acres were under cultivation. In the swampland region about 3, 000, 000 acres have been drained and about one third of this land is used for crops. The chief agricultural products include eggs, meat, milk, potatoes, sugar beets, and wool. The drained land yields abundant harvests of feed and grains, and also provides good pasture land for livestock raising.

The republic has large deposits of peat, which are used for fuel for industrial and power plants. Other natural resources presently being mined include chalk, clay, lime and salt.

The republic has its own constitution and government. The highest organ of state power is a unicameral supreme soviet, elected for a four-year term. The soviet elects a presidium and appoints the government of the republic, which comprises a council of ministers headed by a premier. The organs of state power within the oblasts are soviets of deputies representing the workers. Deputies are elected for terms of two years.

The franchise is enjoyed by all citizens of the U.S.S.R. who are eighteen years of age.

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White Russian Soviet Socialist Republic is represented, at this stage, by Dampier through the Minsk oblast in the Soviet-Empire USSR 2002 Simulation. though this page contains factual information on the former White Russian Soviet Socialist Republic, it is no longer in existence and is only represented in an online simulation.

Dampier represents the White Russian oblast of Minsk, he is a member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, he can be described as a Moderate Hard Liner. ([email protected])