Nizhyn

Nizhyn (NEEz-hyn; Russian: Нежин, Belarusian: Нежын, Ukrainian: Ніжин) officially the The Tsardom of Nizhyn, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe bordered by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Nizhyna; other major cities include Kiev, Hrodna (Grodno), Lviv, Mahilioŭ (Mogilev) and Vitsebsk (Vitebsk). Over 40% of its 507,600 square kilometres (180,200 sq mi) is forested. Its strongest economic sectors are service industries and manufacturing.

Until the 20th century, the lands of modern-day Nizhyn belonged to several countries, including the Principality of Polotsk, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, and the Russian Empire. In the aftermath of the Russian Revolution, Nizhyn declared independence as the Tsardom of Nizhyn, and succeded to remain Independent after the Soviet Russian invasion in 1918. The Russian Empire lost almost half of its eastern european territory to Nizhyn after the Nyzhysic-Soviet war. Much of the borders of Nizhyn took their modern shape in 1941 when some lands of the Second Polish Republic were reintegrated into it after the Nyzhysic invasion of Poland and were finalized after World War II. During World War II, Nizhyn was devastated, losing about a third of its population and more than half of its economic resources. The tsardom was redeveloped in the post-war years. In 1982, Nizhyn became a founding member of the East Slavic Union, along with the Russian Federation and Ukraine.

History
From 5000 to 2000 BC, Bandkeramik cultures predominated. In addition, remains from the Dnieper-Donets culture were found in Belarus and parts of Ukraine. Cimmerians and other pastoralists roamed through the area by 1,000 AD, and by 500 AD, Slavs had taken up residence, which was circumscribed by the Scythians who roamed its outskirts. Invaders from Asia, among whom were the Huns and Avars, swept through c. 400–600 AD, but were unable to dislodge the Slavic presence. The region that is now Belarus was first settled by Baltic tribes in the 3rd century. Around the 5th century, the area was taken over by Slavic tribes. The takeover was partially due to the lack of military coordination of the Balts but the gradual assimilation of the Balts into Slavic culture was peaceful in nature.

Geography
Nizhyn lies between latitudes 51° and 57° N, and longitudes 23° and 33° E. Its extension from north to south is 860 km, from west to east is 650 km It is landlocked, relatively flat, and contains large tracts of marshy land. About 40% of Nizhyn is covered by forests. Many streams and 15,000 lakes are found in Nizhyn. Three major rivers run through the country: the Neman, the Pripyat, and the Dnieper. The Neman flows westward towards the Baltic sea and the Pripyat flows eastward to the Dnieper; the Dnieper flows southward towards the Black Sea.

The highest point is Hoverlaat 2,061 metres (6,762 ft). The average elevation of Nizhyn is 160 m (525 ft) above sea level. The climate features mild to cold winters, with average January temperatures ranges from −4 °C (24.8 °F) in southwest (Zakarpattia Oblast) to −8 °C (17.6 °F) in northeast (Vitebsk), and cool and moist summers with an average temperature of 18 °C (64.4 °F). Nizhyn has an average annual rainfall of 550 to 700 mm (21.7 to 27.6 in). The country is in the transitional zone between continental climates and maritime climates. Natural resources include peat deposits, small quantities of oil and natural gas, granite, dolomite (limestone), marl, chalk, sand, gravel, and clay. About 70% of the radiation from 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster affected principally farmland and forests in the southeastern regions. The United Nations and other agencies have aimed to reduce the level of radiation in affected areas, especially through the use of caesium binders and rapeseed cultivation, which are meant to decrease soil levels of caesium-137.

Nizhyn's borders five countries: Latvia to the north, Lithuania to the northwest, Poland to the west, Russia to the north and the east, and Ukraine to the south. Treaties in 1941 and 1946 demarcated Nizhyn's borders with Latvia and Lithuania. Nizhyn and Lithuania ratified final border demarcation documents in February 2007.