Minsk - download georeferenced map set

Map set contains: 19 maps of scale 1:200 000 38 maps of scale 1:100 000 36 maps of scale 1:50 000 In order to view additional information or download topographic maps for free, pass to images of maps coverage and click on the map square concerned. The latest added maps are indicated in yellow color. Total in map set93 maps of227 Mb Updated inMay 2008 (added 30 maps) $12 Add to cart

Minsk is the capital of Belarus and the administrative centre of the Minsk region and the Minsk district. It is the transportation and communications hub as well as the political, economic, cultural and scientific centre of the country. The city is built on the Svislach River. Its population is around 1.8 million people.

Historical Facts. The first record of Minsk dates back to 1067, when, according to the chronicles The Story of the Bygone Years, a battle took place on the Nemiga River between Usiaslau Brachyslavich, the Prince of Polatsk, and the sons of Kiev Prince Yaraslav the Wise, which brought about the destruction of the city.

Rivers. A basin divide between the Baltic and Black seas lies near Minsk. The main rivers of the Minsk region are the Svisloch, the Ptich, the Islach, the Tsna, the Volma, the Neman, the Viliya, the Narachanka, the Berezina, the Bobr, the Usha and the Gayna.

Water Reservoirs. There are a large number of water reservoirs in and near Minsk: the Tsna Reservoir, Drazdy, the Zaslavl Reservoir ("Minsk Sea"), Vyacha, Petrovichy Reservoir, the Viliya Reservoir.

Sightseeing. Minsk and the suburbia are a home to a large number of historical and cultural monuments. The most well-known include the Bernardine Church, the Cathedral of the Resurrection, Mir Castle, Nesvizh Castle, an archaeological reserve in Zaslavl, the Strochytsy Folk Architecture and Life Museum, the Dudutki Ethnographic Museum and Centre, the Vyazynka Memorial Park and the Stalin Line complex.

Tourism. In Minsk there are different kinds of tourism:

• Water tourism on the rivers Islach, Neman, Viliya, Narachanka, Berezina, Bobr;
• Sailing tourism at the Minsk Sea;
• Equestrian tourism in the villages Ratamka and Tarasava;
• Cycling walks in the vicinity of Raubichy, Ptsich, Minsk Sea, Zelenoe, Mount Dzerzhynskaya;
• Parachute jumping near the village of Baravaya;
• Skiing tourism in Raubichy, Stayki, Drozdy, Zelenoe;
• Ski jumping and freestyle skiing in Raubichy;
• Alpine skiing facilities at Alpiyskiy Sneg (Alpine Snow) (Minsk), Silichy (25 km from Minsk), Lagoisk (27 km from Minsk), and Yakutskiye Gory (Yakut Mountains) located on Mount Dzerzhynskaya (40 km from Minsk).

Reserves and National Parks. In and near Minsk, there are a lot of unique reservations and reserves:

• The Berezinsky reserve, a large system of moraine hills, upland bogs and old pine forests; it is one of the best reserves in Europe and part of the UNESCO biosphere reserves system;
• The Narach National Park in the Narach Region, which houses a great number architectural, archaeological, historical, cultural and natural monuments. Here the Narach lake system is situated, which includes Lakes Narach, Myadel, Batoryna and others;
• The republican biological reserve Volmyansky, which is located on the Minsk edge glacier elevation, with a distinct moraine relief.

Climate. The climate in Minsk and its vicinity is moderately continental, strongly influenced by the maritime air from the Atlantic Ocean. The average day temperature is +18°C in July and -7°C in January.