Germany is a country of diverse landscapes and interesting cities. Its economy is the largest in Europe and the fifth largest in the world. It was in Germany that many revolutionary scientific discoveries were made: science and research have a long tradition here.
Landscapes and cities
Germany surprises with the diversity and beauty of nature: the ridges of islands with sandy beaches and dunes stretch along the North and Baltic Seas, and moorlands and marshes along the coast. Dense mixed forests and medieval castles adorn the river valleys flowing among the hills, which were so loved by the German romantic poets. And in the south, reflected in the clear mountain lakes, the peaks of the Alps rise, the highest of which is the Zugspitze (about 3000 meters above sea level).
With a population of over 80 million, Germany is the most populous country in the center of Europe. Almost half of the inhabitants live in 76 cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants. The largest German cities are Berlin (3.3 million), Hamburg (1.7 million) and Munich (1.3 million). Every university city in Germany, whether large and modern or small and cozy, can boast of its own unique history. Many cities have well-preserved historical centers surrounded by medieval city walls. In some areas, you can admire half-timbered houses or long streets with luxurious buildings from the era of the Grunders, a period of unprecedented growth in the German economy in the 19th century. The cultural life of cities and towns is full of concerts, festivals, performances, exhibitions, sports events, etc.
Politics
The Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) is a parliamentary democracy. Its constitution, adopted in 1949, guarantees basic human rights such as freedom of religion, freedom of speech and equality before the law. After the unification of East (GDR) and West Germany (FRG) in October 1990, the city of Berlin was chosen as the country's capital.
Germany consists of 16 federal states, each of which enjoys certain political freedoms in dealing with a number of issues, for example, in the field of culture and education. The education system in Germany is decentralized: all 16 federal states have their own laws and regulations in the field higher education. German universities are also independent, so it is always necessary to find out about the specific requirements for admission and study conditions directly in the chosen university.
Economy
The German economy is the largest in Europe and the fifth largest in the world. In 2011, German companies exported goods worth over one trillion euros. Most of Germany's exports are in electrical engineering, mechatronics, mechanical engineering, the automotive industry, environmental technologies, pharmaceutical and chemical products. The inscription "Made in Germany" is a universally recognized mark of quality: such brands as Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Bayer, Siemens and many others are known all over the world.
Innovation and creativity
Innovative ideas are the engine of progress in Germany. It is Germany that is the birthplace of numerous revolutionary inventions, such as cars and airbags, X-rays and aspirin, computers, chips and the MP3 format. Science and research have a long tradition here, and their prestige is still high. The first university was founded in Germany already in 1386 in the city of Heidelberg. List of Nobel laureates from this country in the field alone natural sciences and medicine has almost 70 names, including Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen, Robert Koch, Max Planck, Albert Einstein, Christian Nüsslein-Volhard and Harald zur Hausen.
It is no coincidence that Germany is considered a country of poets and thinkers, because Germany is the birthplace of Kant, Hegel and Adorno, Goethe, Heine and Brecht, as well as Bach, Beethoven and Brahms. Many modern German designers, artists, actors, musicians and sportsmen are known all over the world.
Germany- economic, political and sociological information
Germany is the country with the largest economy in Europe and the second largest population after Russia. Germany is a key member of the continent's economic, political and defense organizations.
With coming cold war, after World War II, two German states were formed in 1949: the western Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the eastern - the German Democratic Republic (GDR).
Germany became a member of key Western economic and military organizations: the EU and NATO. The GDR was under the influence of the USSR, joined the Warsaw Pact. The collapse of the USSR and the end of the Cold War allowed Germany to reunite in 1990. The united Germany spent a lot of money so that the population of the former GDR would have patches of the European standard.
In January 1999, Germany and 10 other EU countries introduced a single European currency - the euro. In January 2011, Germany became a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2011-12.
Location of Germany:
Central Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, between the Netherlands and Poland, south of Denmark.
Geographical coordinates Germany:
5100N, 900E
:
Total area: 357,022 sq. km.
Place of the country in the world: 63
land: 348,672 sq. km.
water: 8 350 sq. km
Length land borders Germany:
Total: 3790 km
border countries: Austria 784 km, Belgium 167 km, Czech Republic 815 km, Denmark 68 km, France 451 km, Luxembourg 138 km, Netherlands 577 km, Poland 456 km, Switzerland 334 km
Coastline Germany:
2389 km
Climate Germany:
temperate and maritime; cool, cloudy, humid in winter and summer
terrain Germany:
lowlands in north, central highlands, Bavarian Alps in south
Altitudes above sea level Germany:
lowest point: Neuendorf-Sachsenbande -3.54 m
The most high point: Zugspitze 2963 m
Natural resources Germany:
hard and brown coal, natural gas, iron ore, copper, nickel, uranium, potassium, potassium salts, timber, arable land
land use Germany:
arable land: 33.13%
permanent crops: 0.6%
other: 66.27% (2005)
Irrigated land Germany:
4850 sq. km (2003)
Total Renewable Water Resources:
188 thousand km (2005)
Consumption fresh water in Germany:
Total: 38.01 cu. km / year (communal consumption 12% / 68% industrial / 20% agricultural)
per capita: 460 cubic meters m/year (2001)
natural hazards Germany:
floods
Environment Germany- ecological problems:
emissions from burning coal pollute atmospheric air; as a result of sulfur dioxide emissions, acid rain falls, which damages forests; pollution of the Baltic Sea from untreated sewage and industrial runoff from rivers in eastern Germany; the government has developed a program to phase out nuclear energy over the next 15 years;
Geography - note:
strategic position on the East European Plain and along the entrance to the Baltic Sea
ethnic groups Germany:
Germans 91.5%, Turks 2.4%, other 6.1% (mainly Greeks, Italians, Poles, Russians, Serbo-Croats, Spaniards)
Language Germany:
Deutsch
Religion Germany:
Protestant 34%, Roman Catholic 34%, Muslim 3.7%, Atheist or other 28.3%
Germany:
81,305,856 people (July 2012)
Place of the country in the world: 16
Age structure Germany:
0-14 years: 13.2% (men 5,499,555/5,216,066 women)
15-64 years old: 66.1% (men 27,173,860/26,587,068 women)
65 years and older: 20.7% (men 7,273,915/9,555,392 women) (2012)
Average age Germany:
Of the total population: 45.3 years
men: 44.2 years
women: 46.3 years (2012)
0.2% (2012)
Place of the country in the world: 208
Birth rate in Germany:
8.33 births per 1,000 population (2012)
Country ranking in the world: 218
Mortality in Germany:
11.04 deaths per 1,000 population (July 2012)
Place of the country in the world: 37
:
0.71 migrants per 1,000 population (2012)
Place of the country in the world: 59
Urbanization in Germany:
Urban population: 74% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 0% annual change (2010-15)
:
BERLIN (capital) 3,438,000, Hamburg 1,786,000,
Munich 1,349,000, Cologne 1,001,000 (2009)
The sex ratio in Germany:
at birth: 1.06 men/woman
under 15: 1.05 men/woman
15-64 years old: 1.02 men/woman
65 years and older: 0.76 men/woman
of the total population: 0.97 men/woman (2011)
maternal mortality in Germany:
7 deaths per 100,000 births (2010)
Place of the country in the world: 165
Infant mortality rate in Germany:
Total: 3.51 deaths/1,000 live births
Place of the country in the world: 209
men: 3.81 deaths/1,000 live births
women: 3.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2012)
in Germany:
Of the total population: 80.19 years
Place of the country in the world: 28
men: 77.93 years
women: 82.58 years (2012)
Total Fertility Rate in Germany:
1.41 newborns per woman (2012)
Place of the country in the world: 202
Health care spending in Germany:
8.1% of GDP (2009)
Place of the country in the world: 55
The ratio of doctors Germany:
Physicians 3,531 per 1,000 population (2008)
Density of hospital beds in Germany:
8.17 beds per 1000 people (2008)
HIV / AIDS - in the adult population Germany:
0.1% (2009)
Place of the country in the world: 126
HIV/AIDS - people in Germany living with HIV/AIDS:
67,000 people (2009)
Place of the country in the world: 50
:
less than 1000 (2009)
Place of the country in the world: 79
Obesity - adult prevalence Germany:
12,9% (2003)
Place of the country in the world: 45
Children Germany under 5 years of age with reduced weight:
1,1% (2005)
Place of the country in the world: 119
Education spending in Germany:
4.5% of GDP (2007)
Place of the country in the world: 82
Literacy in Germany:
Unemployment in Germany among young people aged 15-24:
Total: 11%
Place of the country in the world: 98
men: 12%
women: 9.8% (2009)
The political structure of Germany
The name of the country:
Federal Republic of Germany
Former names: German Empire, German Republic, German Reich
State structure:
federal Republic
Capital Germany:
Title: Berlin
geographic coordinates: 52 31 N, 13 24 E
Administrative division Germany:
16 lands:
Baden-Württemberg,
Bavaria,
Berlin,
brandenburg,
Bremen,
hamburg,
Hesse,
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Lower Saxony
North Rhine-Westphalia,
Rhineland-Palatinate,
Saar,
Saxony,
Saxony-Anhalt,
Schleswig-Holstein,
Thuringia,
History reference:
On January 18, 1871, the German Empire was formed; In 1945, after the defeat in World War II, it was divided into four zones of occupation (Great Britain, USA, USSR, France); May 23, 1949 proclaimed the formation of the Federal Republic of Germany - the Federal Republic of Germany on the territory of the zones of occupation of Great Britain, the USA and France; On October 7, 1949, the formation of the German Democratic Republic was announced on the territory of the zone of occupation of the USSR; The FRG and the GDR united on October 3, 1990; all four powers officially renounced their rights to the occupation zones on March 15, 1991;
National holiday in Germany:
Constitution Germany:
May 23, 1949, known as the Basic Law, became the constitution of a unified Germany October 3, 1990
Legal system Germany:
Civil law system
International law Germany:
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage Germany:
from 18 years old, universal
executive power in Germany:
Head of State: President Joachim Gauck (since 23 March 2012)
Head of Government: German Chancellor Angela Merkel (since 22 November 2005)
Cabinet of Ministers: The Cabinet is appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Chancellor
Elections: President elected for a five-year term (eligible for a second term) by Federal Convention;
elections last held 19 February 2012 (next in June 2017);
The Chancellor is elected by an absolute majority of the Federal Diet for a term of 4 years,
Elections in the Federal Diet for the election of Chancellor: last held March 18, 2012
legislature in Germany:
the bicameral legislature consists of the Federal Council or the Bundesrat (69 votes, state governments in council, each having 5:57 votes in proportion to population, voting by political blocs)
Federal Diet or Bundestag (622 seats, MPs are elected by popular vote for a four-year term under a proportional representation system; a party must win 5% of the national vote or three direct mandates to gain proportional representation and form a bloc)
Elections: Bundestag - last held 27 September 2009 (next no later than autumn 2013);
Judiciary in Germany:
Federal Constitutional Court or Bundesverfassungsgericht (half of the judges are elected by the Bundestag and the other half by the Bundesrat);
federal court,
Federal Administrative Court
Flag of Germany:
National anthem:
Title: "Lied"derDeutschen" (Song of the Germans)
text: August Heinrich Hoffmann
music: Franz Joseph Haydn
History of the German anthem: adopted in 1922, restored in 1990; anthem, also known as "Songs of Germany", was canceled in 1945 due to the use of the first verse by the Nazis, in particular the phrase: "Deutschland, Deutschland Ueber Alles" (Germany, Germany, above all), since 1990, this no phrase.
The German Economy at a Glance:
The German economy is the fifth largest economy in in the world in terms of GDP and the largestEurope. Germany is the world's leading exporter of machinery, vehicles, chemical substances, as well as household appliances and other products produced by a highly skilled workforce. Like its Western European neighbors, Germany faces serious demographic challenges for sustainable long-term growth. The low birth rate and declining net immigration are increasing pressure on the country's welfare system and forcing structural reforms.
Reforms launched by the government of Chancellor Gerhard Schröder (1998-2005), which were heavily criticized, contributed to high growth rates in 2006 and 2007 and a fall in the unemployment rate.
The backlog of these successes, as well as a schematically shortened working day, did not allow the growth of unemployment in 2008-2009, which became the most difficult for the country since the Second World War. So unemployment in 2011 was 6%
GDP contracted by 5.1% in 2009 but grew by 3.6% in 2010 and 2.7% in 2011. The growth was driven primarily by a recovery in manufacturing and export orders, which came additionally from outside the euro area.
Germany's central bank has forecast GDP growth of 0.6% in 2012, reflecting the deteriorating economic environment within the euro area and falling demand for German exports.
Domestic demand is therefore becoming an increasingly important driver of economic growth in Germany.
Measures launched in 2008 and 2009 to reduce taxes, initiated by Chancellor Angela Merkel, increased the German budget deficit by 3.3% in 2010.
But the subsequent increase in tax revenues reduced the deficit to 1.7% in 2011.
Constitutional amendments approved in 2009 establish a budget deficit of no more than 0.35% of GDP per year from 2016.
Following the Fukushima nuclear disaster in March 2011, German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced in May 2011 that eight of the country's 17 nuclear reactors would be shut down immediately and the rest would be shut down by 2022. Germany hopes to replace nuclear power with renewables.
:
$3,114 billion (2011)
Place of the country in the world: 6
$3020 billion (2010)
$2904 billion (2009)
GDP Germany(at the official exchange rate):
$3,550 billion (2011)
:
3.1% (2011)
Place of the country in the world: 117
4% (2010)
-5.1% (2009)
GDP Germany- per capita (PPP):
$38,100 (2011)
Place of the country in the world: 26
$36,900 (2010)
$35,500 (2009)
Note: 2011 dollar exchange rate data.
GDP in Germany- by sectors of the economy:
Agriculture: 0,8%
industry: 28.6%
Services: 70.6% (2011)
:
43,670 thousand (2011)
Place of the country in the world: 14
Work force Germany- by sectors of the economy:
agriculture: 1.6%
industry: 24.6%
Services: 73.8% (2011)
Unemployment rate in Germany:
6% (2011)
Place of the country in the world: 64
7.1% (2010)
note: this is the data international organization; The German Federal Employment Agency determines middle level unemployment 7.1% in 2011 and 7.7% in 2010.
Population below the poverty line in Germany:
15.5% (2010)
Distribution of family income Germany- Gini index:
27 (2006)
Place of the country in the world: 124
30 (1994)
Investment in Germany(gross):
18.1% of GDP (2011)
Place of the country in the world: 116
Budget Germany:
revenue: $1598 billion
spending: $1,633 billion (2011)
Taxes and other income Germany:
45% of GDP (2011)
Place of the country in the world: 34
:
1% of GDP (2011)
Place of the country in the world: 60
Germany:
80.6% of GDP (2011)
Place of the country in the world: 24
82.4% of GDP (2010)
:
2.5% (2011)
Place of the country in the world: 39
1.2% (2010)
Central bank - refinancing rate Germany:
1.75% (December 31, 2011)
Place of the country in the world: 113
1.75% (December 31, 2010)
note: this is the European Central Bank rate that offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area
Commercial bank - average lending rate Germany:
3.94% (December 31, 2011)
Place of the country in the world: 169
3.89% (December 31, 2010)
Stock of money supply Germany:
$4197 billion (December 31, 2011)
Place of the country in the world: 5
$4,164 billion (December 31, 2010)
Stock of internal credit Germany:
$4,188 billion (December 31, 2011)
Place of the country in the world: 5
$4368 billion (December 31, 2010)
Market value of publicly traded shares Germany:
$1,184 billion (December 31, 2011)
Place of the country in the world: 12
$1.43 trillion (December 31, 2010)
$ 1298 billion (as of December 31, 2009)
Agriculture Germany- manufactured products:
potatoes, wheat, barley, sugar beet, fruit, cabbage, cattle, pigs, poultry
Industry Germany - manufactured products:
Germany is the world's largest and most technologically advanced producer of iron, steel, coal, cement, chemicals, machinery, vehicles, machine tools, electronics, food and beverages, shipbuilding, textiles
Growth rates of industrial production Germany:
8% (2011)
Place of the country in the world: 26
Current account balance Germany:
$204,300,000,000 (2011)
Place of the country in the world: 1
$200,700,000,000 (2010)
Export Germany:
$1547 billion (2011)
Place of the country in the world: 3
$1315 billion (2010)
Export Germany- products:
automobiles, machinery, chemicals, computer and electronic products, electrical equipment, pharmaceuticals, metals, transportation equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, rubber and plastic products
Export Germany- partners:
France 9.4%, US 6.8%, Netherlands 6.6%, UK 6.2%, Italy 6.2%, China 5.7%, Austria 5.5%, Belgium 4.7%, Switzerland 4 .4% (2011)
Import Germany:
$1333 billion (2011)
Place of the country in the world: 4
$1106 billion (2010)
Import Germany- products:
machinery, data processing equipment, vehicles, chemicals, oil and gas, metals, electrical equipment, pharmaceuticals, food, agricultural products
Import Germany- partners:
China 9.7%, Netherlands 8.4%, France 7.6%, USA 5.7%, Italy 5.2%, UK 4.7%, Belgium 4.2%, Austria 4.1%, Switzerland 4 .1% (2009)
$238,900,000,000 (2011)
Place of the country in the world: 12
$ 216 500 000 000
Duty Germany- external:
$5624 billion (June 30, 2011)
Place of the country in the world: 5
$4,713 billion (June 30, 2010)
Germany- Houses:
$899,400,000,000 (December 31, 2011)
Place of the country in the world: 6
$910,400,000,000 (December 31, 2010)
Foreign Direct Investment Fund Germany- Abroad:
$1,405 billion (December 31, 2011)
Place of the country in the world: 4
$1,406 billion (December 31, 2010)
Exchange Rates Germany:
euro (EUR) to US dollar -
0.7194 (2011)
0.755 (2010)
0.7198 (2009)
0,6827 (2008)
0,7345 (2007)
:
576,800,000,000 kWh (2010)
Place of the country in the world: 9
:
509,500,000,000 kWh (2009)
Place of the country in the world: 8
Electricity Germany- export:
57920 million kWh (2010)
Place of the country in the world: 3
Electricity Germany- import:
42960 million kWh (2010)
Sometimes Germany is called, and very often, "Land of poets and thinkers", which aptly characterizes this country, located in the very center of Europe. The Germans carefully preserve their traditions, which have almost a thousand years of history. Apparently, because of this, tens of millions of tourists visit Germany every year. Moreover, about 10 million tourists come to Berlin every year. Such statistics are quite understandable, given that Germany has a lot of interesting sights, beach resorts, balneological resorts and high-class ski slopes in the Alps.
Geography of Germany
Germany is located in Central Europe. In the north, this country borders with Denmark, in the east - with the Czech Republic and Poland, in the south - with Austria and Switzerland, and in the west - with Luxembourg, the Netherlands, France and Belgium. Germany is washed in the northwest by the Baltic Sea, and in the northeast by the North Sea. The total area of this country is 357,021 km2. sq. The highest point in Germany is the Zugspitze mountain in the Alps (2962 meters).
There are a lot of rivers in Germany, the longest of which are the Rhine, Elbe, Weser, Danube and Oder.
Capital
The capital of Germany is Berlin. The history of this city begins around the first half of the 13th century. Now the population of Berlin already exceeds 3.5 million people.
Official language of Germany
In Germany, the official language is German, which is the Germanic branch of the Indo-European languages.
Religion
The main religion in Germany is Christianity (about 63% of the population). 30% of Christians in Germany are Catholics and 29.9% are Protestants. Catholics mainly live in the south and west of Germany, while Protestants live in the north and east.
1.6% of the German population consider themselves Orthodox Christians, while about 5% are Muslims (mostly Sunnis). There are many atheists in East Germany and in metropolitan areas.
State structure
Germany is a federal parliamentary republic. The head of state is the president (he is elected by the Federal Assembly, which includes members of the Bundestag and state delegates). There are 16 federal (autonomous) states in Germany.
Second highest executive in Germany - the Bundestagspräsident, who is elected by the Bundestag (Parliament).
The main political parties in Germany are the Social Democratic Party of Germany, the Christian Social Union, the SPD, the Christian Democratic Union, the Party of Democratic Socialism, the Union 90/Greens and the Free Democratic Party of Germany.
Climate and weather
In Germany, the climate is mainly temperate continental with warm summers and rather cold winters (quite noticeable temperature fluctuations are typical). Northwest Germany and the coastal regions have a maritime climate with warm summers and mild, cloudy winters. In the south of the country the climate is mountainous with low temperatures and heavy rainfall.
The average air temperature in Germany is about +9 C. In January, which is the coldest month, the average annual temperature in the north is about +1.6 C, and in the south -2 C. In July, the warmest month, the average annual the temperature in the north is +16-18 C, and in the south - +19.4 C.
Every year in Germany falls on average about 400-600 mm of precipitation.
Sea in Germany
Germany is washed by the waters of the North (in the north-west) and Baltic (in the north-east) seas. The total coastline is 2,389 km.
The largest German island is the island of Rügen, which is located in the Baltic Sea. Its area reaches 926 km. sq. About 75 thousand people now live on this island. Another large German island is Femern (it is also located in the Baltic Sea).
Rivers and lakes
Most rivers in Germany empty into the North Sea. These are the rivers Rhine, Ems, Weser, Saale and Elbe. The Oder flows into the Baltic Sea.
The largest rivers in Germany are, as you probably know, the Rhine and the Danube. On the border of Germany in the foothills of the Alps is Lake Constance - the largest lake in Germany. Its area is 536 km. sq. In general, there are a lot of lakes in Germany, among which the Chiemsee, Wannsee, Eibsee, and Langer Waldsee should definitely be mentioned.
History of Germany
Germanic tribes came to the territory of modern Germany from Scandinavia around 100 BC. Germanic tribes living east of the Rhine, after some time came under the rule ancient rome, and the tribes west of the Rhine gave a fitting rebuff to the Romans, and lived freely.
Around 800 AD Charlemagne formed the Carolingian Empire, and Germany became part of it. In the X century, the Holy Roman Empire appeared, formed around the German lands.
During the time of the Hohenstaufen emperors (1138-1254), the lands in the east, inhabited by Slavs, were annexed to Germany.
In 1517, under the influence of Martin Luther, the Reformation began in Germany. catholic church, as a result of which several Protestant churches appeared, including the Lutheran church.
In 1806, the Holy Roman Empire, which consisted mainly of German and Austrian lands, was occupied by the armies of the French Emperor Bonaparte. After the end of the Napoleonic Wars, the German Confederation was formed (it included 39 sovereign German states).
In 1871, the German Empire, headed by Emperor Wilhelm I, was proclaimed in French Versailles. Prussia played a decisive role in Germany at that time.
After the First World War, German Emperor Wilhelm II (in 1918) abdicated, as a result of which the country was forced to sign Peace of Versailles which historians believe was the cause of World War II.
In the first half of the 1930s, Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers' Party came to power in Germany. Events developed in such a way that the Second World War could no longer be avoided, and it began on September 1, 1939. This most bloody war in the history of mankind lasted for six years. As a result, Germany was defeated, and was divided into two parts - East (GDR) and West (FRG) Germany.
In 1989, under the influence of many factors (including due to interference in its internal affairs by some capitalist states), the Communist Party was liquidated in the GDR, after which the Berlin Wall was destroyed, and Germany was unified (this happened in October 1990).
Now Germany is part of the NATO military-political bloc and is a member of the European Union.
Culture of Germany
The history of Germany goes back many hundreds of years, and therefore the Germans, of course, have a very rich culture, which had (and continues to do so) a great influence on the culture of neighboring peoples (Austrians, Dutch and Swiss).
Thanks to Germany, the world received a large number of brilliant writers, artists, philosophers and scientists:
- Literature (Goethe, Schiller, Heine, Thomas Mann, Kafka, Erich Maria Remarque);
- Classical music (Bach, Beethoven, Mozart and Richard Wagner);
- Art (Kolwitz, Dürer and Paul Klee);
- Psychology (Jung);
- Philosophy (Kant, Schopenhauer and Friedrich Nietzsche);
- Science (Einstein, Kepler, Roentgen, Planck and Virchow).
In general, some literary critics call Germany the "Land of poets and thinkers." Judging by the number of poets and philosophers born in Germany, this name is true.
Germany cannot be imagined without traditional German holidays and festivals. The most popular and famous of them are the Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, Walpurgis Night, the Love Parade (July), the M'era Luna music festival in Hildesheim (August), the Wave-Gotik-Treffen gothic art and music festival in Leipzig (August), Nibelungen Festival (August) and Kiel Week (July).
Kitchen
Germany is made up of several dozen formerly independent principalities, and this means that there is great regional diversity in German cuisine.
Some tourists believe that German cuisine contains a lot of heavy and fatty dishes, and they may be right about something, but this has changed in the last 200 years. Thanks to the influence of the Italians and the French, German cuisine has become more refined and sophisticated. So, the cuisine of the southern lands of Germany (Bavaria and Swabia) was greatly influenced by the culinary traditions of Switzerland and Austria.
Tourists in Germany are advised to definitely try various German sausages, sausages, schnitzels, cutlets and steaks, as well as the following traditional dishes: German sausage soup, Eintopf Pichelstein, pork roll, Saxon-style potato soup, Wismar-style fish, goulash with lecho , German-style herring, Berlin-style apple pie, and speculatio biscuits.
The national alcoholic drink in Germany is beer. The Germans produce a wide variety of beers, and in huge quantities. Moreover, the strength of beer can reach up to 12% alcohol.
Germany also produces excellent wine (mostly white). The main German wine regions are the Aar, Baden, Württemberg, Mosel, and Rheinhessen.
Sightseeings of Germany
In Germany, they are very careful about their history. Now in this country there are about 4,700 museums that store unique archaeological, historical and ethnographic artifacts. There are so many attractions in Germany that we will highlight ten of the best of them, in our opinion:
Cities and resorts
The largest German cities– Berlin (about 3.5 million people), Hamburg (about 1.8 million people), Munich (over 1.5 million people), and Cologne (1.1 million people). Main ports – Frankfurt am Main, Lübeck and Husum.
There are many ski and medical (balneological and mud) resorts in Germany. Ski resorts are located in the Alps on the border with Austria. The most popular of them are Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the Berchtesgaden Region (Berchtesgaden, Schönau an der Königssee, Bischofswiesen, Marktschellenberg and Rams) and Oberstdorf.
The most famous German spas are Bad Homburg in Hesse, Bad Kissingen in Bavaria, Bad Reichenhall in Berchtesgaden and, of course, Baden-Baden.
Souvenirs/Shopping
- Beer mugs and glasses;
- Wine glasses;
- Traditional German hats;
- Cuckoo-clock;
- German toys;
- Football souvenirs;
- Porcelain dolls in unmarked national costumes;
- Ship models (they are sold in Hamburg);
- German wines (we recommend paying attention to Affentaler Spätburgunder);
- German beer.
Office Hours
Bank opening hours:
Mon-Fri: from 8:30 to 16.00, some - until 17:30
Post offices:
Mon-Fri: from 08:00 to 18:00
Sat: from 08:00 to 12:00
Government agencies:
Mon-Fri: from 09:00 to 17:00
The shops:
Mon-Sat: from 08:30 to 18:00
Visa
Ukrainians need a visa to enter Germany.
Currency
Germany
Regional information
Official name: Federal Republic of Germany
Country area: 357 thousand sq. km
Population: 82.258 million people
Political system:
parliamentary republic. The head of state is the federal president, who is elected by the Federal Assembly. The head of government is the Federal Chancellor. The highest body of legislative power and the body of popular representation is the German Bundestag, elected by the people for 4 years. The head of the supreme body of legislative power is the President of the Bundestag.
Capital: Berlin with a population of about 3.4 million people
National holidays: 1st of January ( New Year), Catholic Good Friday (Good Friday), Catholic Easter, Catholic Easter Monday - church calendar, May 1 (Labor Day), Catholic Pentecost (Holy Spirit Day) - according to the church calendar, October 3 (German Unity Day), December 6 (St. Nicholas Catholic Day), December 25 (Catholic Christmas), December 26 (St. Stephen's Day ).
Administrative division: In administrative-territorial terms, Germany consists of 16 states: Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saar, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, North Rhine- Westphalia, Thuringia and Schleswig-Holstein. Federal lands are not provinces, but states with their own Constitution, which meets the principles of a republican, democratic, legal and social state and authorities.
Borders: In the north it borders with Denmark, in the east with Poland and the Czech Republic,
in the south - with Austria and Switzerland, in the west - with France, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands. In the north it is washed by the North and Baltic seas.
Main rivers: The main river is the Rhine, among the numerous tributaries of which are the Main, Ruhr,
Moselle, Neckar, Lahn. The other two rivers are the Danube in the south of the country and the Elbe with a tributary of the Neisse in the eastern part of Germany. Among the lakes, the largest is Lake Constance, partly located in Austria and Switzerland.
Climate: Germany has a temperate maritime climate. In the center of the country the climate is more continental than in the north - winters are colder and summers are warmer. Snow lasts the longest in the mountains - over 100 days in the Alps and on the peaks of the Black Forest.
The average temperature in January on the plains is from -4°С to -2°С, in the Alps - up to -5°С, in July on the plains from 16°С to 20°С, in the highlands up to 14°С. In summer, temperatures rise southward, with the highest levels occurring in the Upper Rhine Lowland. The average July temperature there is 19°C, and the average July temperature in Berlin is 18.5°C.
Official language:
German, English and French are used in communication with foreigners.
Currency: Euro (EURO). Banknotes: 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 euros. Coins: 2 and 1 euro; 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.
Religion: Protestants (mostly Lutherans) - 36%, Catholics - 35%, Muslims - 2%, Jews. About 31% of the German population, mostly in the former GDR, are atheists.
Excursion into history
Between the 1st and 4th centuries AD, as a result of the Great Migration of Nations, the Germanic tribes, called barbarians by the Romans, spread throughout Europe and mixed with the Celts. After the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, the Franks played the most significant role among the Germanic tribes. In the period of the VI-IX centuries, they formed a huge Frankish kingdom on the territory of Europe, which included most of Western Europe. In 843, after the collapse of this state, the East Frankish kingdom arose on its territory, in the future - the kingdom of Germany. In the 10th century, the unofficial name of the East Frankish kingdom appeared - "Reich of the Germans" (Regnum Teutonicorum), which after several centuries became generally recognized, its German version - Reich der Deutschen. 
The next East Frankish king was in 936 the Duke of Saxony Otto I (in the Russian historical tradition he is called Otto). In 962, Otto I was crowned in Rome as Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, which at that time consisted of Germany and part of Italy. The whole history of Germany is, in essence, the history of the Holy Roman Empire. This political institution, which existed until 1806, retained a single form and the same political claims. Despite the strength of its state structure, The Holy Roman Empire consisted of many almost independent states and cities, united by the idea of the dominion of Eternal Rome as the center and head of Western Christendom. In 1701, among the many lands within the Empire, the Brandenburg-Prussian state stood out, called the "Kingdom of Prussia" and distinguished by a rigid bureaucratic system and militarism. The Holy Roman Empire ceased to exist in 1806, during the era of the Napoleonic Wars, when the Confederation of the Rhine was proclaimed in its place. Despite economic prosperity, the Confederation of the Rhine soon ceased to exist: following the results of the Congress of Vienna on June 8, 1815, it was replaced by the German Confederation, which included (at the initial stage of its existence) 41 states under the leadership of Austria. Nevertheless, this formation turned out to be fragile and could not resist the eternal idea of imperial unity and greatness, which became the engine of German history. This time, it was the Prime Minister of Prussia, Otto von Bismarck, who received the nickname Iron Chancellor for his tough character. An economically strong Prussia united most of the North German states around itself. The Austro-Prussian-Italian War initiated by Bismarck led to the collapse of the German Confederation and the formation on January 18, 1871 German Empire, which included the South German states. However, the period of prosperity and prosperity was replaced by an era of catastrophes and misfortunes. As a result of the First World War, Germany lost all its colonies and was obliged to pay huge reparations, famine and epidemics raged in the country, and terrible inflation reigned. First World War turned out to be only a prelude to those terrible events that followed it and entered the chronicle of world history as one of its most tragic stages. The Second World War led to fundamental changes in the world order, as well as a global rethinking of human values. Among the most tragic consequences of the Second World War for Germany was its redistribution between the countries participating in the anti-Hitler coalition. 
As a result of this redistribution, there appeared: in the west - the Trizone of Germany, or West Germany, which in 1949 received the name of the Federal Republic of Germany, in the east - the Soviet zone of Germany, or East Germany, which in the same year was called the German Democratic Republic (GDR). Bonn became the capital of Germany. As for Berlin, starting from 1945, it was divided between the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition into four occupation zones. Eastern zone occupied Soviet troops, later became the capital of the German Democratic Republic. In the three western zones, control was exercised, respectively, by the occupying authorities of the United States, Great Britain and France. After the formation of the FRG and the GDR, both states declared their claims to sovereignty over West Berlin. With the conclusion of September 3, 1971, the quadripartite agreement, the ratio of the FRG - West Berlin - GDR was put on a new legal framework. The occupation regime remained in West Berlin. The absence of a clear physical border in Berlin led to frequent conflicts and a massive drain of specialists, in connection with which the GDR authorities initiated the construction of a guarded wall that physically separated West Berlin from the GDR. The merger of the FRG and the GDR single state occurred spontaneously and was accompanied by a number of political upheavals in the ruling circles of both parts. In early November 1989, a grandiose demonstration took place in Berlin, which ended with the destruction of the Berlin Wall. This symbolic event was one of the first steps towards the unification of the two German states. Soon, the German mark of the FRG came into circulation on the territory of the GDR, and in August 1990, an agreement on the establishment of unity was signed between the two parties.
Art and tradition
Germany is a country of great culture, with a rich tradition and a great variety of prominent personalities. For many people, the art of Germany is associated primarily with music.
Germany has one of the richest musical traditions in the world. Even those who are not interested in classical music know the names of Bach, Handel, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, Wagner… Every year the country hosts a great many major festivals and other musical events that always cause a wide public outcry. The Wagner Festival held every summer in Bayroth has a rich history, and festivals dedicated to Beethoven (in Bonn) and Mozart (Würzburg) are popular. Germany is home to many world-class orchestras, including: the Berlin Philharmonic, the Bamberg Symphony, the Munich Philharmonic, and the Gewandhaus Orchestra in Leipzig. The musical tradition is indeed an important part of German life. Here in many families it is customary to give children musical education, a huge number of specialized institutions operate in the country, various competitions are held to identify young talents.
Germany is also known as a major literary power. This is evidenced by the fact that the International Book Fair, which takes place every autumn in Frankfurt, is the main center of attraction for the entire publishing world. The passion for reading among the Germans has not disappeared, despite the Internet and television. Here, with equal interest, they read both classics such as Goethe, Schiller or Lessing, as well as outstanding authors of the 20th century - Günter Grass, Lion Feuchtwanger, Erich Maria Remarque, Hermann Hesse ... The art of the word in Germany is still at a very high level today. Among the writers of our time, the names of Uwe Thiem, F.K. Delius, Ralf Rothmann, who declared themselves even before the 90s, should be noted.
Traditionally, Germany is considered a country of poets and thinkers. Notable German philosophers include Leibniz, Kant, Hegel, Marx, Schopenhauer, and Heidegger, but the key figure in German philosophy is undoubtedly Friedrich Nietzsche.
Many great names know the fine arts of Germany. At different times, such masters as Albrecht Dürer, Caspar David Friedrich, Lucas Cranach the Elder created European art history.
National cuisine
If you try to characterize German cuisine in a few adjectives, then the definitions are best suited to it: simple, tasty, satisfying and ... varied. Residents of Germany are not inclined to calculate calories, preferring rather heavy and satisfying dishes to light and low-calorie dishes.
All kinds of meat products are very popular in German cuisine - various kinds of sausages, sausages, as well as the world-famous white Bavarian sausages (Weisswurst). These products can be used as part of second courses (for example, the world famous sausage dish with stewed sauerkraut, called Sauerkraut), as well as for preparing snacks and various soups. Among the latter, especially noteworthy are potato soup with sausages, pea soup with sausage, and the popular Berlin Eintopf (Eintopf), a thick, rich soup that replaces a whole meal.
The list of the most savory dishes of German cuisine is headed by Hackepeter, raw minced meat with salt, pepper, egg and spices (it is also called "tar-tar"). This stuffing is often used as a paste, spreading on bread. 
Other popular meat dishes include: chops and schnitzels, meatballs (Klops), boiled pork knuckle (Eisbein), brisket with ribs (Rippchen), black pudding with raisins, Hamburger fillet,
Dishes from various vegetables are widely represented in German cuisine - cauliflower, green beans, carrots, red cabbage ... They are consumed here in large quantities, especially boiled as a side dish. Traditionally, the Germans are considered lovers of potatoes, which are called the second bread here and are used in a variety of dishes.
The Germans love sweet and starchy dishes, which is why all kinds of desserts are so widely represented in the national cuisine of Germany. The signature German dessert is, of course, apple strudel, which is simply delicious here. No less tasty are pies and cakes with a variety of fillings - cherry and pear, plum or cottage cheese, with chocolate, nuts, cream and whipped cream ... Also popular among sweet dishes are fruit salads made from finely chopped fruits, which are sprinkled with powdered sugar and poured over with fruit sauces or syrups, jellies, mousses, all kinds of casseroles with fruit sauces, ice cream... You should definitely try Pfunnkuchen - pancakes in Berlin with marmalade inside. Germans prefer natural coffee to tea, mostly with milk.
Like many other European countries, Germany has regional peculiarities. So, for example, in the northern coastal lands, fish and other seafood dishes play a leading role. To the east along the coast, more and more varieties of fruits and berries appear on the table. Among the local culinary masterpieces stand out more than others: apples with beans, plums with dumplings, goose with prunes, black pudding with raisins.
And, of course, in all regions of the country they equally love beer and always drink it, with or without reason. The tradition of brewing originated in Germany a very long time ago, at all times the foamy drink was one of the symbols of the country. When traveling in Germany, you should definitely try the wines of different regions. Each of its varieties has a unique bouquet of smells and tastes. Rhine wines are especially popular. In addition to beer and wine, schnapps (Schnaps) is drunk a lot and with pleasure in Germany. So here they call almost any fruit alcohol with a strength of 35 to 40 degrees, made without any artificial additives based on a variety of fruits and berries. Schnapps in Germany is consumed both in pure form and in cocktails.
>> Federal Republic of Germany
Chapter 9
Brief regional characteristic
§ 1. Federal Republic of Germany
Already by the beginning of the XX century. Germany was one of the largest and most economically developed countries in Europe. After the defeat of Germany in World War II, its territory was first divided into four zones of occupation, but in 1949 the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) was formed in the western zones, and the German Democratic Republic (GDR) in the eastern zone. At the end of 1990, they were reunited, and the GDR ceased to exist.
federal Republic Germany(Germany) - the most powerful state in economic terms foreign Europe. This country is part of the "big seven" of Western countries. It plays a significant role not only in the European, but also in the global economy and politics.
The most important feature economic and geographical position of Germany- its centrality, location at the crossroads of trans-European trade and transport routes latitudinal and meridional directions, the availability of wide access to the Baltic and North Seas, the ability to use such international rivers as the Rhine and Danube, direct land proximity to nine countries of Western, Northern and of Eastern Europe. The unification of the country led to an improvement in both the economic-geographical and geopolitical position of the FRG.
According to the form of government of Germany- a parliamentary republic with a bicameral parliament (Bundestag and Bundesrat) and a government headed by the Chancellor. The president, although officially considered the head of state, performs mainly only representative functions. According to the form of the administrative-territorial structure, Germany is a federal state, consisting of 16 historical lands (regions), each of which has its own government and elected legislative bodies.
The population of Germany characterized by several important specific features. First of all, it is the largest in terms of population country of foreign Europe(more than 82 million people, 16th in the world). But at the same time it is a country with a very difficult demographic situation, back in the early 1970s. mortality began to exceed the birth rate. Severe depopulation can only be avoided by constant labor immigration, to which political refugees have recently been added. In terms of the number of immigrants, Germany ranks first in Europe, they make up almost 1/10 of all residents. The bulk of immigrants settle in major cities. Immigration increases social tension in society and causes protests.
The distribution of the population in Germany is characterized primarily by a very high average density (230 people per 1 km 2), and in some areas the density reaches 1000-2000 people per 1 km 2 or more. Along with this, Germany is one of the highly urbanized countries in the world (74% of the city dwellers), ranking first in the region in terms of the number of urban agglomerations of various ranks.
Largest cities countries - Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Cologne, Frankfurt am Main, the largest agglomeration - Rhine-Ruhr with a population of more than 10 million people.
Economy of Germany reached a very high level of development. In terms of total GDP, the country is second only to the United States, China, India (which is much larger than it both in area and in population) and Japan, and in terms of GDP per capita ($35,000) it is in the top ten leading countries of the world. The structure of the German economy, in which 70% falls on the service sector, 29% on industry and 18% on Agriculture, convincingly indicates that this country is at the post-industrial stage of development. As a member of the European Union, Germany takes an active part in Western European integration. TNCs play a major role in the country's economy. There are seven German companies among the 50 largest industrial companies in the world, including Thyssen, Siemens, Daimler-Benz, and Volkswagen.
German industry, despite the gradual decline in its share in GDP, it still largely determines the country's place in the world economy, its "face" in the international geographical division of labor. In terms of industrial production, Germany ranks fourth in the world, behind the United States, Japan, and China. In its structure, the main role for a long time was played by traditional German heavy industries - coal, metallurgical, metal-intensive machine building and armaments production, electrical engineering, chemical. Then the importance of the mining, including coal, industry, as well as ferrous metallurgy noticeably decreased, and mechanical engineering and the chemical industry began to act as key branches of international specialization.
German engineering It produces mainly products of the average level of science intensity: machine tools (second place in the world after Japan), automobiles, electrical products, various equipment, but also high-precision products. For example, founded in the city of Jena in the middle of the nineteenth century. the workshop for the production of optical instruments subsequently turned into the world's largest optical-mechanical enterprise "Carl Zeiss".
The leading place in the world is also occupied by multidisciplinary chemical industry which produces tens of thousands of products. Its raw material base is oil and brown coal.
Fuel and energy economy of Germany focused on domestic hard and brown coal and on imported oil and natural gas. In the electric power industry, the main role belongs to thermal power plants (61%), but the importance of nuclear power plants is also quite large (17%). Most of them are located within densely populated urban agglomerations, and many are also literally strung on the course of the Rhine, Elbe and their tributaries.
The main industrial region of the country was and still is the Ruhr. But in the second half of the XX century. along with it, new industrial centers arose, especially in the southern part of the country and in seaports.
Agriculture Germany very different high level mechanization and chemicalization and, accordingly, the same level of productivity of field and garden crops and livestock productivity. This industry is characterized by the predominance of animal husbandry, which provides more than 2/3 of all marketable products. Breed mainly dairy cattle and pigs, in terms of the number of which the country ranks fourth in the world after China, the United States and Brazil.
crop production not only "helps" animal husbandry with feed, it almost completely satisfies the population's needs for food. From food crops highest value have wheat, barley, potatoes, sugar beets. And the main type of agricultural enterprise is a family farm.
Transport Germany is distinguished by a very large network density: in fact, there are no settlements in the country that are any remote from land and waterways. And in the cargo turnover, and even more so in the passenger turnover, the leading role belongs to road transport; motorways (“autobahns”) of Germany are among the best in Europe, some of them officially do not have speed limits.
The level of motorization in Germany is very high. But traditional modes of transport such as rail (with a high-speed rail network) and inland waterways also retain their importance.
The river port of Duisburg on the Rhine - the western gate of the Ruhr industrial region - ranks first in the world in terms of cargo turnover.
For international trade relations are widely used and seaports Hamburg, Bremen, Lübeck, and others. A dense network of pipelines has also been laid across the territory of the FRG, through which oil and natural gas enter the country. A new offshore gas pipeline, Nord Stream, is under construction, designed to supply Germany with 40 bcm of Russian gas.
Non-manufacturing sphere in Germany, as in a post-industrial country, it is represented by the widest range of various kinds activities. A significant part of the economically active population is employed in the state apparatus, education, healthcare, wholesale and retail trade, tourism and hotel services, science and culture. Financial and banking services play a very important role; It is no coincidence that eight German banks are among the 50 largest banks in the world (the largest of them is Deutsche Bank). The importance of various kinds of business and personal services is also growing.
Foreign economic relations have for Germany as a country with an open economy exclusively great importance. In terms of the size (value) of exports of goods, it ranks first in the world, imports - second after the United States. Germany has the closest trade ties with countries - members of the European Union, with the USA, Japan, Canada. Among the CIS countries, Russia is the main trade and economic partner of Germany. In Russia's foreign trade, Germany occupies the first place.
Territorial structure The economy of Germany is distinguished by its polycentric character, a very strong “cultivation” environment, high saturation of the territory with settlements, industrial centers and transport routes.
The geographical pattern of the economy of Germany is primarily determined by the location of its main industrial and urban agglomerations, which are interconnected by highways and polyhighways. The largest of these agglomerations, the Rhine-Ruhr, forms the core of the administrative state of North Rhine-Westphalia. This land, which occupies 1/10 of the country's territory, concentrates more than 1/5 of its population and provides the same part of the all-German GDP. It is here that the main production capacities of ferrous metallurgy (Duisburg, Dortmund), heavy engineering and energy, and to a large extent the chemical industry, which is widely represented in the middle reaches of the Rhine (Ludwigshafen, Frankfurt am Main), are concentrated.
However, now the Rhine-Ruhr agglomeration no longer dominates other industrial and urban agglomerations of the country as before. In terms of the development of the latest high-tech industries, it is ahead of agglomerations
Stuttgart in the southwest and Munich in the south. They are also major centers of the automotive industry: famous Mercedes are produced in Stuttgart, and BMW cars (Bayerische Motorwerke) are produced in Munich. The most important cores of the territorial structure in the north of Germany are seaports, and above all the largest of them - Hamburg, as well as Wolfsburg, where Volkswagen cars are produced, Hannover. In the eastern part of the country, Berlin, Leipzig, and Dresden serve as important centers of TLC.
In Germany, much attention has previously been paid to regional policy, which pursued the goals of “reanimation” of old industrial depressive areas, unloading agglomerations, and equalizing the levels of socio-economic development of individual regions of the country. But after 1990, regional policy measures were aimed primarily at a general recovery and restructuring of the economy on the territory of the former GDR, which accounts for 33% of the area and 26% of the population of the FRG.
Maksakovskiy V.P., Petrova N.N., Physical and economic geography of the world. - M.: Iris-press, 2010. - 368 pp.: ill.
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