Vitebsk Region

Vitebsk Region, Vitsebsk Voblast, or Vitebsk Oblast (Ві́цебская во́бласць, Viciebskaja Vobłasć, ; Ви́тебская о́бласть) is a region (voblast) of Belarus with its administrative center being Vitebsk (Vitsebsk). It is located near the border with Russia.

As of a 2011, the region had a population of 1,221,800. It has the lowest population density in Belarus at 30.6 p/km².

Important cities within the region include Vitebsk, Orsha, and Polotsk/Navapolatsk.

Geography
Vitsebsk Region covers an area of 40,000 km², which is about 19.4% of the national total. It is bordered on the north by Pskov Oblast of Russia, by Smolensk Oblast of Russia on the east, on the south by Minsk Region and by Mogilev Region, on the southwest by Minsk Region and Grodno Region, and on the west and northwest by Vilnius and Utena counties of Lithuania and Dagda, Daugavpils, Krāslava and Zilupe municipalities of Latvia.

The northern extreme point of Belarus is situated in Verkhnyadzvinsk District of Vitebsk Region, north of Lake Osveya.

In 2000 Belarusian scientists Alexey Solomonov and Valery Anoshko published a report in which they stated that the geographic centre of Europe was located near Lake Sho (Шо) in the Vitsebsk Voblast. 

The region is known for its numerous lakes. The largest lakes of the Vitebsk Region are: Osveyskoye (2nd largest in Belarus), Lukomskoye (4th largest), Drivyaty(5th largest in Belarus and the largest of Braslav Lakes), Nescherdo, Snudy, Lisno, Ezerische, Strusto, Richi, Losvido, Lepelskoye.

The region has more national parks, nature reserves, and wildlife preserves of national importance than any other region of Belarus. Braslav Lakes and Naroch National Parks and Berezinski Biosphere Reserve comprise 3,4% of the whole region's territory, and 22 wildlife preserves of national importance make up 4,1% of the region.

Economy
Vitebsk Region has a number of important transport connections with Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic countries, and Poland.

Tourism
The number of travel agencies in Vitebsk Region has been growing, from 25 in 2000 to 83 in 2010; most provide both agent and operator activities. The numerous lake resorts attract tourists for several-night stays. Polotsk and Vitebsk are the most popular cultural tourism destinations of the region.

Administrative subdivisions
The Vitebsk Region is subdivided into 21 districts, 2 cities of oblast subordinance, 19 additional cities, 249 selsovets, and 26 urban-type settlements.

Cities

 * Vitsebsk (Ві́цебск; Ви́тебск) - 342,400
 * Orsha (О́рша; О́рша) - 125,300
 * Navapolatsk (Наваполацк; Новополоцк) - 101,300
 * Polotsk (По́лацк; По́лоцк) - 82,800
 * Pastavy (Паставы) - 20,500
 * Hlybokaye (Глыбокае)- 19,600
 * Lepel (Ле́пель; Ле́пель) - 18,800
 * Novolukoml - 14,900
 * Haradok (Гарадок; Городок) - 14,000
 * Baran - 12,300
 * Talachyn (Талачын) - 10,500
 * Braslaw (Браслаў; Браслав) - 10,100
 * Chashniki (Чашнікі) - 9,800
 * Dubroŭna (Дуброўна) - 9,100
 * Myory (Мёры) - 9,000
 * Syanno (Сянно)- 8,400
 * Beshankovichy (Бешанко́вічы) - 8,200
 * Verkhnyadzvinsk (Верхнядзвінск) - 7,300
 * Dokshytsy (Докшыцы)- 7,000
 * Ushachy (Ушачы)- 5,600 (urban-type settlement, capital of Ushachy District)
 * Disna - 2,400

Towns

 * Koptyush

Demographics
As of 2008, the birth rate was 9.7 per 1000, while the death rate was 15.5 per 1000.