Germany

Germany is a large country in Central Europe, stretching from the Alps, across the North European Plain to the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. Germany has the second largest population in Europe and is seventh largest in area. Elevation ranges from the mountains of the Alps (highest point: the Zugspitze at 2,962 metres (9,718 ft)) in the south to the shores of the North Sea (Nordsee) in the northwest and the Baltic Sea (Ostsee) in the northeast. Its neighbours are Denmark in the north, Poland and the Czech Republic in the east, Austria and Switzerland in the south, France in the southwest and Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands in the west.

The climate is temperate; rapid changes in temperature are rare. Average temperatures in January, the coldest month of the year, range from 1.5° C (35° F ) in the lowlands to –6° C (21° F ) in the mountains. July is the warmest month of the year, with average temperatures between 18° C (64° F ) in low-lying areas to 20° C (68° F ) in the sheltered valleys of the south. The upper valley of the Rhine has an extremely mild climate. Upper Bavaria experiences a warm alpine wind ( Föhn) from the south. The Harz Mountains form their own climatic zone, with cool summers, cold wind, and heavy snowfalls in winter.

The German economy - the fifth largest economy in the world in PPP terms and Europe's largest - began to contract in the second quarter of 2008 as the strong euro, high oil prices, tighter credit markets, and slowing growth abroad took their toll on Germany's export-dependent economy. At 1.7% in 2008, GDP growth is expected to be negative in 2009. The current government of Chancellor Angela MERKEL has initiated other reform measures, such as a gradual increase in the mandatory retirement age from 65 to 67 and measures to increase female participation in the labor market. Germany's aging population, combined with high chronic unemployment, has pushed social security outlays to a level exceeding contributions, but higher government revenues from the cyclical upturn in 2006-07 and a 3% rise in the value-added tax cut Germany's budget deficit to within the EU's 3% debt limit. Agriculture resources are potatoes, wheat, barley, sugar beets, fruit, cabbages; cattle, pigs, poultry. Industries are among the world's largest and most technologically advanced producers of iron, steel, coal, cement, chemicals, machinery, vehicles, machine tools, electronics, food and beverages, shipbuilding, textiles. Natural resources: iron ore, coal, potash, timber, lignite, uranium, copper, natural gas, salt, nickel, arable land. Major trading partners: France, U.S., UK, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Spain, China.

Berlin is the capital city and a state of Germany. It is the countries largest city in area and population and the second most populous city in the European Union. A major tourist and shopping destination and is well known for its diverse range of convention venues and media outlets. It is home to some of the worlds most prominent universities, theatres and museums. Baden-Wurttemberg is one of the 16 states of the Federal Republic of Germany. Hamburg has more bridges inside its city limits than any other city in the world. The most important rivers in Hesse are the Fulda and Eder rivers in the north, the Lahn in the central part of Hesse, and the Main and Rhine in the south. Saxony has the most vibrant economy among the former GDR states.

Language is German and religion are Protestant 34%, Roman Catholic 34%, Islam 4%, Unaffiliated or other 28%.

In the field of music, Germany claims some of the most renowned classical composers of the world including Bach, and Beethoven, who marked the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western classical music. Germany hosts many large rock music festivals annually. The Rock am Ring festival is the largest music festival in Germany, and among the largest in the world. German artists also make up a large percentage of Industrial music acts.

Football is by far the most popular sport, and the German Football Federation (Deutscher Fussballbund) with more than 6.3 million members is the largest athletic organisation in the country. Other popular sports are handball, volleyball, basketball, and ice hockey.