The Grodno Administrative Region (or “Oblast”) is in western Belarus, bordering Poland and Lithuania. It has an area of 25,000 square kilometers and a population of about 1.04 million. Its main cities are Grodno, Lida, Smorgon, Slonim and Volkovysk. The terrain is mainly flat and the climate is warm and humid, with an average temperature of -5°C in January and 18°C in July, and an annual precipitation of 530-660 mm. Of the many rivers that nourish the region, the most impressive isNeman River, which runs through the entire Oblast and is the third largest river in Belarus. Grodno accounts for 9% of the country's GDP. Agriculture is the leading industry in the region, with main crops being potatoes, grains, beans, sugar beets, vegetables, oilseed rape and flax. As an integral part of the "BRI" international transportation corridor, Grodno has a robust industrial environment, producing more than 11% of the country's industrial goods.