Barysaw, city in north central Belarus in Minsk Oblast. Barysaw is located on the Berezina River at its confluence with the Skha. The city lies 64 km (40 mi) east-northeast of Minsk and 322 km (200 mi) north-northeast of Chernobyl', the site, in 1986, of the world's worst known nuclear disaster. Barysaw is situated on the glacial moraine that provides drainage between the humid Baltic Sea lowlands and forests and marshes to the south. Most urban growth in the Soviet era (1917-1991) occurred across the Berezina from the old city. Barysaw is known for production of tapestries and musical instruments. It produces manufactured wood products mostly from pine and oak. Other industries include chemicals, plastics, glass and enamelware, zinc, electrical and automotive equipment, and construction cranes. Barysaw is on the main rail and highway lines to Moscow via Orsa and Smolensk.
The city is named after Boris, a medieval prince of the independent principality of Polotsk (present-day Polatsk, Belarus). Barysaw was first mentioned in Russian manuscripts between 1102 and 1127. It lies near the site of a major defeat inflicted on the retreating army of French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte in the Battle of Berezina (1812). Barysaw was again the site of fierce fighting in World War II (1939-1945). Population (1996 estimate) 153,409.
