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What is the Capital of Germany?

Berlin, located in northeastern Germany, is the capital and largest city of Germany, as well as the political, cultural, transportation and economic center of Germany, with a population of about 3.634 million (September 30, 2018).

Berlin is surrounded on all sides by the state of Brandenburg, and the Spree and Havel rivers flow through the city. The coordinates of the city center are 52°31′ and 13°2′ east. Berlin is one of the sixteen federal states in Germany, and together with Hamburg and Bremen, it is the only three city-states in Germany. In 2016, Berlin’s gross regional product reached $268.9 billion.

After World War II, the city was divided into two areas, East Berlin became the capital of East Germany, and West Berlin became a de facto West German enclave in East Germany, surrounded by the Berlin Wall. Until reunification in 1990, the city regained its status as the capital of Germany and was home to 147 foreign embassies.

Berlin has diplomatic relations with many cities in the world, such as Los Angeles, Paris, London and Madrid.

On December 26, 2019, it ranked seventh in the 2019 Global Top 500 Cities List.

The 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games will be held in Berlin.

Population ethnicity
As of 2016, the population of Berlin is about 3.5 million, and the majority of residents are Germans, but there are also a small number of residents of other ethnic groups such as Danes, Sorbians and Turks.

As of September 30, 2018, the population was about 3.634 million.

Administrative division
As of 2016, the city of Berlin is divided into 12 districts. They are: Mitte, Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, Pankow, Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, Spandau, Steglitz- Zellendorf, Tempelhof-Schöneberg, Neukörn, Treptow-Kepernick, Marzan-Hellersdorf, Lichtenberg and the Reinickendorf district.

Geographical environment
Location realm

Berlin is located on the plain in northeastern Germany. The coordinates of the city center are 52°31′ north latitude and 13°2′ east longitude. Berlin is located at the mouth of the Havel, a tributary of the Elbe, where the Spree flows into the Havel. It is about 180 kilometers away from the Baltic Sea in the north and 190 kilometers away from the Czech Republic in the south, with a total area of ​​about 892 square kilometers.

Topography

The terrain of Berlin is low and flat, but slightly undulating, with an average elevation of 35 meters. The stratum is sandy. The Spree River and a large number of lakes and canals are dotted in between, which provides Berlin with abundant groundwater and lush forests in the Berlin area.

The highest natural point is in Kreuzburg, 66 meters above sea level. The Spree River traverses the urban area and flows westward into the Havel River. The latter is meandering, forming a string-shaped Havel lake group, with Miguel Lake and other lake groups distributed at the eastern end. The large lake becomes the water source of the city, and several large forests are distributed in between.

Climate

Berlin has a mild continental climate with hot summers and cold winters. Average temperatures during June, July and August are between 22°C and 25°C, with summer highs around 30°C.

Hydrology

The Spree River originates from the northern foot of the Lausitz Mountain in the southeast, flows northward through the wide swamps, forms many lakes, and joins the Havel River in Berlin. The river has a total length of 403 kilometers and a drainage area of ​​10,000 square kilometers. Spring is the flood season. The average annual flow near Cottbus is 12 cubic meters per second. 153 kilometers below Lüben is navigable.

Natural resources
Water resources

Berlin’s rivers and lakes cover an area of ​​4.1 square kilometers, accounting for 4.8% of the city’s total area. Rich in water resources, the utilization rate reaches 95%. Berlin’s freshwater resources account for about 8% of the country’s total.

Plant resources

Berlin’s city center is full of well-groomed gardens and surrounding forests. About 26.5% of the area of ​​Berlin is covered by green vegetation such as flowers, trees, and trees.

Animal resources

The animal resources in Berlin are relatively scarce, and there are only a few common species such as wild boar, fox hare and beaver.

Mineral resources

Berlin is very rich in mineral resources, mainly including salt mines, coal mines, zinc mines, iron ore and manganese mines.