Minsk, is the capital and largest city of Belarus, on the Svislach and the Nyamiha Rivers. As the national capital, Minsk has a special administrative status in Belarus and is the administrative centre of Minsk Region (voblast) and Minsk raion (district). In 2013, it had a population of 2,002,600. Minsk is the administrative capital of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and seat of the Executive Secretary. 

The earliest historical references to Minsk date to the 11th century (1067), when it was noted as a provincial city within the Principality of Polotsk. The settlement developed on the rivers. In 1242, Minsk became part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. It received town privileges in 1499. 

From 1569, it was a capital of the Minsk Voivodeship, in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. It was part of a region annexed by the Russian Empire in 1793, as a consequence of the Second Partition of Poland. From 1919 to 1991, after the Russian Revolution, Minsk was the capital of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic in the Soviet Union. Minsk will host the 2019 European Games. 

Minsk is located on the southeastern slope of the Minsk Hills, a region of rolling hills running from the southwest (upper reaches of the river Nioman) to the northeast – that is, to Lukomskaye Lake in northwestern Belarus. The average altitude above sea level is . The physical geography of Minsk was shaped over the two most recent ice ages. The Svislach River, which flows across the city from the northwest to the southeast, is in the "urstromtal", an ancient river valley formed by water flowing from melting ice sheets at the end of the last Ice Age. There are six smaller rivers within the city limits, all part of the Black Sea basin. QUESTIONS:

Q1:
1. Which city is the biggest one in Belarus?
2. What is Belarus' most sizeable city?
3. 
Q2:
1. When was Minsk established?
2. When did Minsk first come about?
3. 
Q3:
1. What century was Minsk established in?
2. In what century did Minsk first come about?
3. 
Q4:
1. Where did people settle in Minsk?
2. What did people settle on around Minsk?
3. 
Q5:
1. What was Minsk connected to in 1793?
2. What annexed Minsk in 1793?
3. 
Q6:
1. What resulted in Russia annexing Minsk?
2. Why did Minsk become a part of the Russian Empire?
3. 
Q7:
1. What was Minsk a capital of until 1991?
2. Up to 1991, what did Minsk serve as the capital of?
3. 
Q8:
1. Starting when was Minsk the capital of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic?
2. When did Minsk begin serving as capital of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic?
3. 
Q9:
1. Where is Minsk located?
2. Where can Minsk be found?
3. 
Q10:
1. Does Minsk have land above sea level?
2. Is any part of Minsk higher than sea level?
3. 
Q11:
1. What divides Minsk from southeast to northwest?
2. What is the barrier between the southeast and northwestern parts of Minsk?
3. 
Q12:
1. What is the number of rivers in Minsk?
2. How many rivers does Minsk have?
3. 
Q13:
1. What basin do Minsk's river share?
2. What is the common basin of all of Minsk's rivers?
3. 
Q14:
1. What is Minsk the administrative capital of?
2. What uses Minsk as its administrative capital?
3. 
