Gomel region is situated in the south-western part of the East-European plain. The western part of the region lies on Pripyat Polesye - a waterlogged and forest-covered lowland, situated 120-140 m above sea level. Degraded moraine hills and heights can be seen on the right bank of the Pripyat, the highest is the Mozyr range (206 m). Polesye lowland sides with Dnieper lowland in the east. To the east and north-east of the Dnieper the lowland ascends gradually and turns into Chechersk plain.
The region has temperate continental climate with warm summers and comparatively gentle winters. The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is minus 6.5 C, of the warmest month (July) - plus 18.5 C. Yearly rainfall fluctuates from 550 to 650 millimeters, and diminishes in the direction from north-east to south-west. Vegetative period lasts 190-200 days.
The main river is the Dnieper crossing the region from north to south, its length on the territory of the region is 420 km. The Dnieper's tributaries (the Berezina and the Pripyat on the right and the Sozh on the left) are navigable and floatable. Numerous Pripyat tributaries (the Sluch, the Ptich, the Tremlya, the Ipa, the Stviga, the Ubort, the Slovechna) also play a very important economic role and serve as float ways and receiving waters for soil-reclamation canals. There are many lakes on the territory of Gomel region, the largest is the Chervonoye (44 square km).
The Prevailing soil type is sod-podzol and peatbog soil. Sod-podzol loamy and sand soil is spread in the east. The Pripyat basin has light-podzol sand soil, peat and peatbog soil. Considerable area with humus-carbonate soil is situated near Turov and has high fertility.
Forests occupy 38.6% of the territory. Main forest masses are situated in the west, where percentage of forest land reaches 60%. 63% of the plantation is made up by conifers (mainly pine-tree), 37% - by hardwood (oak, hornbeam, birch, alder). More than a half of all Belarusian oak forests are situated in Gomel region. 12.6% of the territory is occupied by marshes, mainly low-lying. Animal world presents usual mixed forest inhabitants, alongside with forest-steppe animals (hamster, spotted gopher), and marsh turtle. Game animals include lepus, brown hare, squirrel, fox, game birds are black grouse, partridge, wood grouse, hazel grouse. The beaver is protected by the state.
