Belarusian Land Treasures. Mogilev Region

The Republic of Belarus is located in the center of Europe and is one of the 15 largest countries in this part of the world. Belarus is often called a ‘blue-eyed country’: there are thousands of lakes, rivers and protected forests. But the country is interesting not only for its unique nature. Each region of Belarus has its own modern industrial giants, amazing historical sites and sights. Belarus consists of six regions: Brest, Vitebsk, Gomel, Grodno, Minsk and Mogilev.  The MT presents the project called Belarusian Land Treasures and invites readers on an exciting journey. Having a rich and original history, the Mogilev Region is a bright and dynamically developing region of Belarus. The childhood of the President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, passed in the village of Alexandria, Shklov District, Mogilev Region. Famous natives of the Mogilev Region also include the artist Vitold Byalynitsky-Birulya, the first printer Pyotr Mstislavets,  the poet and translator Arkady Kuleshov, the writer Leonid Daineko and many other people  who left a noticeable mark on the history of our country.

The House of Soviets in Mogilev

Historical insight, interesting facts

In the 8th-9th centuries, the territory of the Mogilev Region was inhabited by the Slavic tribes of the Dregoviches, Radimichs and Krivichs, who founded the first cities and laid the foundations of statehood.
The most ancient cities of the Mogilev Region are Mstislavl (founded in 1135), Propoisk (now Slavgorod) and Krichev — both have been known since 1136. The year of foundation of Mogilev, according to the report of the Mogilev Chronicle, is considered to be 1267, when the castle was laid at the bend of the Dnieper River.
Throughout its history, the Mogilev lands have repeatedly become the site of hostilities, including during the Livonian War, the Northern War, the war with Napoleon in 1812, the World War I and the Great Patriotic War.
After the accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in 1986, part of the territory of the Mogilev Region (mainly in the south) was subjected to significant radioactive contamination. However, thanks to a consistent rehabilitation and land restoration policy, the Mogilev Region today is a well-developed and attractive region.

Trofimova Krinitsa

Geographical position and population

Mogilev Region is located in the east of the country. It borders the Smolensk and Bryansk Regions of Russia. The relief of the region is predominantly flat.
As of January 1st, 2022, 1,000,845 people lived in the region.
The largest cities in the region are Mogilev (355,436 people), Bobruisk (209,675 people), Gorki (30,010 people), Osipovichi (29,633 people) and Krichev (23,704 people).

At the Mogilev City Emergency Hospital

Economic development

Mogilev Region is one of the main industrial regions of Belarus. It is the country’s main producer of car tires, elevators, cement, chemical fibres, as well as fabrics from chemical fibres. The leading industries in the region are the production of food and beverages, rubber and plastic products, building materials, machinery and equipment, chemical products, and woodworking.
There are almost 1,650 industrial enterprises and organisations in the region. The largest of them are Belshina, Mogilevkhimvolokno, Belarusian Cement Plant, Krichevcementnoshifer, Mogilevliftmash, Mogotex, Mogilev Metallurgical Plant, Bobruisk Plant of Tractor Parts and Units, Mogilev Carriage Works, Newsprint Plant, Mogilev Dairy Company Babushkina Krynka.

At Belshina in Bobruisk

The most important sector of the economy and the main component of the agro-industrial complex is agriculture. Crop production is dominated by cereals, potatoes, fodder crops. Flax growing is at a high level.
In a number of regions, specialised farms are engaged in fur farming, horse breeding, and fish production.
After the adoption and implementation of the State Programme for the Revival and Development of the Village, about 200 agro-towns have been equipped in the Mogilev Region. The agro-industrial complex is represented by almost 200 agricultural organisations. The Mogilev FEZ was founded in the region in 2002.

Natopa-Agro. Livestock specialist Pavel Gurin.

During flax harvesting in the Mogilev Region

Natural wealth and mineral resources

Nature endowed the Mogilev Region with picturesque places.
453 rivers flow through the region, including the Dnieper River, Berezina River, Sozh River, Svisloch River, Ptich River, Drut River, Oster River, Besed River, Iput River.
Most of the 120 lakes in the region are of glacial origin and have crystal clear waters. The largest of them are Vygoda Lake, Zaozerskoye Lake, Chernoye Lake, Neroplya Lake, Vyakhovo Lake, Dikoye Lake.
5 reserves of republican significance and 61 hydrological, biological and landscape reserves of local significance have been created here. There are 91 natural monuments in the region, many of which are popular not only among Belarusians, but also among foreign guests. These are, for example, Trofimova Krinitsa, located near the agro-town of Alexandria, Polykovichskaya Krinitsa near Mogilev, Zhilichsky park in the Kirov District and an arboretum in Gorki.
The region is famous for its hunting resources. Forests occupy almost 40 percent of the territory of the Mogilev Region.
The area is rich in minerals. There are 1800 known deposits: cement raw materials (the country’s largest reserves of chalk, marl, clay and cement loam), phosphorites (fields unique for Belarus), sand and gravel mixtures, building and silicate sands, peat, sapropel, mineral waters, tripoli and oil.

Chalk quarries near Krichev

Culture and main attractions

Mogilev Region is a bright cultural region of the country. It was in Mogilev in 1888 that the first drama theatre in Belarus appeared — one of the best in Europe in terms of acoustics, in which Komissarzhevskaya, Chaliapin and Rakhmaninov performed. And in Krichev, the palace of Count Potemkin, erected a century earlier, pleases the eye to this day.
The oldest agricultural university in the CIS and European countries, founded in 1840, is located in the district centre of Gorki — the Belarusian State Agricultural Academy. Among the graduates of this famous establishment, which has a rich history and traditions, is the President of the Republic of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko.
The only castle preserved in the region is Bykhovsky. It is worth noting the ensemble of the St. Nicholas Monastery of the 17th century in Mogilev, the Jesuit church with the monastery of the early 17th century in Mstislavl, the palace and park ensemble of the 18th century in the village of Zhilichi, Kirov District, as well as the Bobruisk Fortress of the 19th century and the Town Hall of the 18th century in Shklov.

Bulgakov Palace in Zhilichi

Many bright events are held in the Dnieper Region of Belarus. These are the Kupala night nationwide festival (Alexandria Gathers Friends), the international musical and sports festival Big Bard-Fishing in the Bykhov District, the medieval culture festival Knights Fest in Mstislavl, the international festival of children’s creativity Golden Bee in Klimovichi, the Wreath of Friendship festival of folk art in Bobruisk, the Golden Hit International Music Festival in Mogilev and many others.

At the Kupala Night Festival in Alexandria

  The majestic Buinichi Field memorial is another iconic place in the Mogilev Region, dedicated to the heroic defenders of Mogilev in 1941.

Buinichi Field Memorial Complex

Prepared by Svetlana Sergeeva
PHOTOS ARE TAKEN FROM SB.BY, BELTA AND OPEN SOURCES