Location

The city of Mogilev is the centre of Mogilev region and district.

It is situated at the boundary of Orsha- Mogilev and Central Berezina plain. Suburban area of Mogilev, which makes territory within a radius of up to 40 km from city centre, also comprises part of Checherskaya plain.

Mogilev is located in the eastern part of Belarus and it is an administrative centre of Mogilev region and district. The city is situated 201 km to the east of Minsk and covers area of 1287,3 thousand ha. The railways link it with the nearby located towns Orsha, Osipovichy, Zhlobin, Kricherv. Highways connect Mogilev with Minsk, Gomel, Vitebsk, Bobruisk and other cities. Mogilev is divided into 2 administrative districts: Leninsky and Oktyabrski.

Geology

Regarding tectonics, the territory of Mogilev and its suburbs make a part of Orshanskaya basin. Crystalline basal complex, comprised by gneiss, lies at depth of 1100-1200m. Superposed sedimentary cover, depth of which is up to 1300m, is composed of Uper Proterozoic solids (960m), comprised by feldspathic-quartz sandstones, siltstones, mudrocks, tillites and igneous-sedimentary rocks, which are overlayed by Middle Paleozoic solids, namely Devonian deposits (260m), such as chalky clays, clays, hydrous sulphate of lime, sand-rocks, siltstones, anhydrites.

Such Mesozoic group solids, as caliches, argillaceous and aleuritic deposits of Jurassic system and arenated, loamy and chalk rocks of Cretaceous system are deposited closer to ground surface (20-60m). Thickness of anthropogenic solids, comprised by moraine, sand clay, sand-and-gravel, sand and loesslike material on the surface makes 40-60m.

Geological history

During Archaean and Early Proterozoic era crystalline basement was formed. Starting from the second half of Agnotozoic and till the end of Mezozoic era there was alteration of marine and continental conditions. Tillite sediments, found in earth bore, show that during late Proterozoic era here was continental congelation. During Proterozoic and Mezozoic era marine conditions lasted for Middle Devonian, late Jurassic period.

Anthropogenic period is characterized with pentamerous invasion of continental glaciers from Fenoscandia. The territory of the present-day city was covered with a very thick layer of Narevsky, Berezinsky, Dneprovsky and Sozsky glaciers. For the whole Muravinskiy (Mikulinskiy) interglacial period, which had preceded the last Poozerskoe congelation and also after glacial retreat, relief flattening with simultaneous river valleys cavitation and formation of ravines took place in Holocenic system. This is when present day features of relief and hydrographic system have been formed.

Mineral resources

Territory of the city is located within Orshansky aquifer basin. Considerable stocks of fresh hydrocarbonate waters with saltiness of up to 0,4 g/l with underlying mineral waters and salt brines are located in anthropogenic deposits and old oskolsky level of the Middle Devonian (total thickness of 230 m.). There`s also medicinal mineral waters well at Vilchitzy village, which is situated 4 km. to the south of the city. Water of Polikivichy stream is famous for its medicinal properties. At the suburbs of the city there are deposit occurrences of brick raw materials (Dolgoe, Kupelovskoe and others), mortar sand and alluvium (Shapchitskoye, Niznepolovinigorskoye and others), goethites, which are used for paints production.

Relief

Peculiar feature of Mogilev is the valley of the Dnieper river with its high right bank, steeply going down to the river and broad flood plain of left bank. General surface slope is from north to south. Width of the Dnieper valley is 3-5 km, and that outside of the city limits is up to 10m. Sea-level altitude varies from 205 m in the northern part of the city to 140 m in the Dnieper plain flood, going outside of the city limits. Relative elevation variations on the right bank of the city make generally 10 m, and up to 20m on the territory of Pechersky forest park. Sharp slopes of hills and river valley are grass-covered, some places are with tree vegetation (Gorky Park). Right-bank Mogilev is sloted with valleys of the Dubrovenka river and Debry stream going from north to south. Width of valleys of the Dubrovenka river is up to 150m, its width — 18-20m. Valleys of Streshnya and Debrya are very narrow (5-7 m) and deep (up to 25m), the valley-side slopes are sloted with numerous combs. Lazarenko, Plechanovo and Grushevaya are the most steeply dipping streets, which are located on the right slope of the Dneper.

Climate

The climate of Mogilev is moderately continental, with more distinct continental features, in comparison with the rest of the territory of the republic (as being the eastern part of the country), with mild winters and warm summers. Total solar radiation makes up to 3809 MJ/m2 (90,9 kkal/sm2). Total amount of sunshine hours is aprox.1800, 44% of which are during three summer months and 8%- winter months. In total there are 100 sunless days during the year. Prevailing westerlies bring along frequent invasion of warm air mass, together with Atlantic and Mediterranean cyclones, what results in thawing weather, fogging and fallout during the winter. During warm seasons of the year, cyclones bring cool weather with frequent rainfalls. Average annual temperature in Mogilev is +5,4°С. Absolute maximum air temperature makes +36°С (July 1897, August 1946), absolute minimum is -37°С (February 1929, January1940). Winter is characterized with sudden weather change with prevailing cloudy weather. January is the coldest month of the year (-7,6°С). Average temperature of July, which is the warmest month of the year, makes +18°С . Vegetation period lasts for 188 days from April, 13 till October, 18 (air temperature is over 5°С). High relative air humidity is a peculiar feature of Mogilev and Belarus as a whole. From October to March air humidity is over 80%.

In Mogilev, like in any big city, a peculiar microclimate is created within urban development. In the centre of the city during fair, still nights air temperature may be up to 2-4 degrees higher, comparatively with temperature indications at meteoroligacal site, which is situated in the city outskirts. Due to asphalt pavement, the humidity in the city is lower, there are fewer snow days, and more foggy days (due to great number of condensation nuclei).

Surface waters

Mogilev is situated on the bank of the river Dnieper. By its length (2201km) and catchment basin area (504 thou. km2) the Dnieper is the third in the Europe after the river of Volga and Dunay. The river of Dnieper is the most affluent river, which over many centuries had been the main thruway. Small Dubrovenka river and stream Debria flow within the city precincts from north to south and run into the Dnieper. The right confluent of Dnieper Lakhva is flowing 5 km to the west of Mogilev. 5 km to the east of the city is the stream head of the Rudeya river-Resta right confluent (Soz basin). On the Dubrovenka river Pecherskoye man-made lake was created in Pechersky forest-park; it is a very popular recreation zone of the city inhabitants; in summer boat station is open here. Natural Svyatoye and Grbenevskoye lakes are located in the southern part of the city. At Dnieper flood bed there are numerous oxbow lakes and boggy areas.

Soils and vegetation

As per soilbore and geographical zoning of BSSR, the territory of Mogilev and its suburbs make a part of Shklovsko-Chausskiy and Rogachievsko-Slavgorodsko-Klimovicheskiy soil districts. In city parks, squares, city garden plots and surrounding collective farms soddy-staw-podzolic and sod-podzol bogged soils are prevalent and in Dnieper flood bed there are alluvial soddy-gley and peat-boggy soils. By mechanical composition soils are mostly light-loamy and sabulous-clayey; on left bank of Dnieper valley there are sandy soils. Natural soil landscape of the city is considerably modified.

Planted land area of the city makes about 2930 ha (1988) — 4 parks, 44 squares, 3 parkways, streets and squares plantings. There are 80 m2 of planted land per each inhabitant. For city landscaping native flora trees and shrubs are used, as well as those relocated from other areals. One can find linden, buckeye, maple, birch-trees, ash trees, mountain ash, cottonwood, briar, lilac, snowberry, Jessamine along the streets, walkways, in the parks, squares of the city. There are also some exotic types, such as Amur corktree, thuja, japonica, blue spruce, larch-tree and shrubs, such as forsythia, mahonia. Sanitary protection zones are created around large enterprises, were grow such plants as common larch, cottonwood, Colorado spruce, bastard acacia etc. Lawns, flower beds, garden beds at the squares, along the streets, near industrial enterprises, educational institutions make Mogilev a very beautiful city.

In the north-western part of the city there? s Pechersky forest-park and in the south-eastern part -Lybusky forest-park. Near the city one can find medical plants, such as common wolfs-claws, field horsetail, melmot-berries, myrtleflag, sparrowgrass, May lily, butter daisy, great nettle, European hazelwort, hoary alyssum and etc. Over 10 species of plants, growing in suburban area are rear and endangered, they are under protection and are included into the Red Book of the Republic of Belarus (helleborine crimson, platyphyllous bellflower, moss fern, butterfly orchid, cowslip paigle, hepatica, pasqueflower platyphyllous). Predominant species are pine trees and fir trees, as well as birch-tree, aspen, alder, oak tree, linden. In underwoods grow cobnut, bird cherry tree, button tree, euonymus, buckthorn and viburnum.

At water-meadows of central flood bed the prevailing herbs are foxtail, bluegrass, timothy, fescue grass. A distinctive feature of upland meadows is a big variety of species composition, such as mat grass, dog’s-tail, ranunculus, self-heal, cornflower, rattleweed, milfoil and etc.

Extension of city planted land area, as well as development of playground and Lybuz forest-park is envisaged by long term development plan of the city.

Fauna

The fauna of Mogilev and its precincts comprises 200 species of vertebrates (including 25 mammal species, 100 nest bird species, over 20 fish species, 8 amphibian species, 3 reptile species) and over 300 species of invertebrates. The most common vertebrates inhabitants of forest parks are squirrel, mole, hedgehog, in the city outskirts inhabit hare, elk, raccoon dog. Among carnivores there are ermine, European polecat, weasel. Sometimes the beavers show up at water bodies within the city. There are many species of rats (black and sewer rat), mice (house mouse, field mouse, wood mouse).

Avifauna is very abundant: the most numerous species is sparrow, frequently occur rook, jackdaw, raven, magpie, tomtit, starling, rock-pigeon. For winter come here jay, bullfinch, waxbird. Common inhabitants of parks and gardens are snowbird, chaffinch, half-collared flycatcher, nightingale, linnet, greenfinch, garden warbler, goldfinch, redstart. In city outskirts nestle white stork, sky lark, cuckoo, wryneck; at the Dnieper flood bed- black-headed gull, bank swallow, white wagtail, peewit and etc. There are the some fish families, with prevailing cyprinoids (roach, ablet, bream, crucian carp, dace), also occur perch, pike, loach.

The reptile and amphibian species are represented by grass-snake, lizard, frog, oad. Some of the fauna species, such as badger, black-throated loon, kingfisher, butcherbird are included into the Red Book of the Republic of Belarus and are under protection.