Belarus is a beautiful country located in Eastern Europe. It has a rich history, vibrant culture, and gorgeous landscapes. Let’s explore some riddles about this fascinating nation and their clever answers.
Geography
Q1: A landmark in Minsk that honors Belarusian soldiers in World War 2
A1: The Island of Courage and Sorrow
Q2: The capital city of Belarus
A2: Minsk
Q3: A lake near Braslaw that attracts many tourists
A3: Drivyaty
Q4: The highest point in Belarus
A4: Dzyarzhynskaya Hara (Dzyarzhynsk Hill) at 345 meters above sea level
Q5: Major river that flows through Belarus and Ukraine
A5: Dnieper River
People
Q6: Which Belarusian author wrote the novels Comets, New Land and Roads in a Blizzard?
A6: Vasil Bykaw
Q7: The last name of the Belarusian physicist who invented fiber optics
A7: Basov
Q8: Surname of the Belarusian journalist and partisan who fought against Nazi occupation in World War 2
A8: Kalinowski
Q9: Which Belarusian sportsman won 3 gold medals in gymnastics at the 1996 Olympic games?
A9: Vitaly Scherbo
Q10: The Belarusian founder of the first R&D physics institute in Minsk
A10: Yanka Kupala
History
Q11: Historic name for the territory that makes up modern-day Belarus
A11: Polesia
Q12: The former Soviet Republic that Belarus was part of
A12: USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)
Q13: Century when Cyrillic was adopted in the early Belarusian state
A13: 14th century
Q14: Leader of Belarus who resisted Bolshevik control in 1918-19
A14: Stanisław Bułak-Bałachowicz
Q15: Belarusian word for the armed resistance groups that fought Nazi occupation
A15: Partisans
Culture
Q16: What is the name of the traditional Belarusian shirt worn by men?
A16: Vyshyvanka
Q17: A Belarusian holiday that celebrates harvesting
A17: Dozhynki
Q18: The most popular sport in Belarus
A18: Football/Soccer
Q19: Name the famous Belarusian sausage made with pork and beef
A19: Kindziuk
Q20: A traditional Belarusian ceramic craft from the town of Dyatlova
A20: Dyatlova Toys
Literature
Q21: Classic work of Belarusian literature from the 16th century that depicts peasant life
A21: Tale of Igor’s Campaign
Q22: Greatest Belarusian poet who wrote “New Land”
A22: Yanka Kupala
Q23: Belarusian writer and activist who led a peasant rebellion against Polish rule in the 18th century
A23: Vintsent Hadleŭski
Q24: Which novel tells the story of Belarusians living through the Chernobyl nuclear disaster?
A24: Voina pod kryshami (War Under the Roofs)
Q25: Writer who authored the historical novel “The Baptism of Fire”
A25: Vasil Bykaw
Symbols
Q26: The national flower of Belarus
A26: Flax flower
Q27: Animal depicted on the Coat of Arms of Belarus
A27: Knight on horseback
Q28: What colors make up the flag of Belarus?
A28: Red and green
Q29: Original name proposed for Belarus when it first declared independence in 1918
A29: Belarusian People’s Republic
Q30: Where is the largest display of Belarusian national symbols located?
A30: Independence Square in Minsk
Economy
Q31: Leading export partners of Belarus
A31: Russia and Ukraine
Q32: Major Belarusian truck and machinery manufacturer
A32: BelAZ
Q33: What are the valuable exports found in Belarusian bogs?
A33: Peat moss and cranberries
Q34: Crop grown in Polesia region used to make linen products
A34: Flax
Q35: Belarusian confectionery company known for chocolate brands Spartak and Kommunarka
A35: Spartak
Cities
Q36: Second largest city in Belarus
A36: Homel
Q37: Old Belarusian city known as “The Athens of Belarus”
A37: Polotsk
Q38: Name the 3rd most populous Belarusian city
A38: Mahilyow
Q39: City in Belarus named after a river
A39: Brest
Q40: Belarus hosts one of two stopping points of the Berlin-Moscow railway. Name either city
A40: Brest or Orsha
Food & Drink
Q41: What potato dish is considered the national food of Belarus?
A41: Draniki
Q42: Sweet Belarusian bun filled with poppy seeds
A42: Kulich
Q43: Fermented rye bread drink similar to kvass
A43: Kvass
Q44: Belarusian cognac brand made from locally grown grapes
A44: Tserkovny
Q45: Popular local variety of apples
A45: Antonovka
Language
Q46: The day celebrating the Belarusian language is called what?
A46: Mother Tongue Day
Q47: What are the two official languages of Belarus?
A47: Belarusian and Russian
Q48: Dialect of Belarusian spoken in the east that blends Russian and Ukrainian words
A48: Trasianka
Q49: Old Belarusian word for grain harvest from the 16th century
A49: tulchan
Q50: Honorific title for a Belarusian bachelor’s or master’s degree
A50: Candidatus
Science
Q51: Belarusian scientist who invented the oil cracking method
A51: Ivan Klimontowicz / Jan Czymmentowski
Q52: The father of Belarusian geology
A52: Ignacy Domeyko
Q53: Belarusian founder of the Russian periodic table of elements
A53: Dmitri Mendeleev
Q54: Physicist from Brest who created the theory of optically active media
A54: Anatoli Svidzinski
Q55: Belarusian educator and founder of a mutli-disciplinary research academy
A55: Francishak Skaryna
Biodiversity
Q56: Belarusian wolf species hunted nearly to extinction in the 20th century
A56: Belovezhskaya Pushcha wolf
Q57: The European bison species that survives today only in captivity in Belarus
A57: European wood bison
Q58: Extinct aurochs species that lived in Belarus during the Middle Ages
A58: Eurasian aurochs
Q59: This butterfly species is named after the Berezina region of Belarus where it makes its home
A59: Scarce Copper
Conclusion
From history to science, food to language, Belarus has a captivating culture with much to discover. I hope you enjoyed these riddles that provide a fun glimpse into this country most know little about. Let me know if you have any other riddles about Belarus – I’d be happy to give them a try!
