Germany, the 7th largest country in Europe, covers 357,022 km² and shares borders with nine countries. Divided into regions like the North German Plain and Bavarian Alps, it features significant rivers, lakes, and islands. Berlin is the capital; Frankfurt is the financial hub. It consists of 16 states, with a population of approximately 83 million.
Germany, located in Central Europe, covers an area of approximately 357,022 km² (137,847 mi²). It shares borders with nine countries: Denmark (north), Poland and the Czech Republic (east), Austria and Switzerland (south), and France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands (west). Its northern maritime borders are defined by the Baltic and North Seas, while the geography is divided into regions: North German Plain, Central Uplands, Southern German Scarplands, and the Bavarian Alps.
The North German Plain is a flat region extending from the northern coast to the Central Uplands, featuring diverse landscapes including beaches, marshes, and farmlands. Major cities such as Hamburg and Berlin are located here. Beneath this area lies the Central Uplands, home to low mountain ranges like the Harz and Black Forest, providing undulating terrain, forests, valleys, and rivers, denoting a watershed divide between major river systems.
The Southern German Scarplands, which include the Swabian and Franconian Jura, are situated south of the Central Uplands. This region features stepped landscapes with rolling hills and extensive forests, formed from Jurassic limestone. At the southernmost tip lies the Bavarian Alps, part of the European Alps, with Germany’s highest peak, Zugspitze, reaching 2,962 meters (9,718 feet).
Germany’s northern maritime borders are crucial for international shipping, with the North Sea and Baltic Sea connected by the Kiel Canal. Interior bodies of water include Lake Constance, bordering Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and Lake Müritz, the largest entirely within Germany. The country’s major rivers are the Rhine, Elbe, and Danube, facilitating transport and trade.
Germany encompasses various islands, primarily in the North and Baltic Seas, the largest being Sylt, Rügen, and Usedom. Sylt is known for its beaches, while Rügen and Usedom are recognized for their resorts and nature reserves. Officially the Federal Republic of Germany, it consists of 16 states (Länder), organized into 401 administrative districts, further classified into urban and rural categories.
With an area of 357,022 km², Germany ranks as the 7th largest country in Europe and is the second most populous, with Berlin as its capital and largest city. Frankfurt serves as the financial center, while the Ruhr region is the largest urban area. Germany is strategically located, bordering nine countries, and bounded by significant seas that bolster its economic transport frameworks.
Original Source: www.worldatlas.com
