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Geography of Germany

Germany is the seventh-largest country in Europe and the one with the largest population after European Russia. The territory that covers the country is 357,021 square meters, spreading from the Alps to the North Sea shores and the Baltic Sea. Through Germany run three of the major European rivers, namely the Danube, Rhine and Elbe. The country borders Denmark, Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, France and Luxembourg, as well as Belgium and the Netherlands.

Germany has a temperate climate moderated by the North Atlantic Drift, which is part of the Gulf Stream. The winters here are mild, while the summers are cool. Because of its size and location, Germany has a large variety of landscapes. The central part of Germany is covered by mountains, including a small portion of Alps and hilly rural areas that are mainly covered by forests, for example the Black Forest which has been declared a national heritage. The forests host many wild animals like wolves, bears and wild boar.

To the north, Germany has a long coast along the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. The shore is flat and the climate is rough, with lots of rain and chilly temperatures. On the south-western border with Austria and Switzerland is located Lake Constamce, the largest lake in Germany. The area around that lake has a mild climate and fertile soil and is the most important area in Germany for fruit and wine growing.

Today, Germany has a population of 82 million, which makes it the most populous country in the European Union even though the fertility rate is one of the lowest in the world. The largest cities in the country are Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Cologne, Frankfurt and Stuttgart. The religion in Germany is mainly Christianity, with the second-largest religion being Islam, followed by Buddhism and Judaism, as well as Hinduism. Protestantism and Roman Catholicism comprise about thirty-one percent of the population each. An interesting fact is that the current Pope, Benedict XVI, was born in Bavaria. The official language in Germany is German, which is one of the twenty-three official languages in the European Union, and one of the working languages in the European Commission. There are many minorities in Germany and their languages are recognized, such as Serbian, Danish, Romany and Frisian. The languages used by the immigrants are Turkish, Polish, Russian and all of the Balkan languages.