Welcome to Germany

Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany is known to be a country in West-central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Germany is known to be a parliamentary federal republic of sixteen states. Did you know that the capital city and seat of government is Berlin. As a nation-state, the country was unified amidst the Franco-Prussian War in 1871. Soon after its defeat in World War II, the German Reich (or Germany) was occupied and the territory divided into two separate states in 1949. Did you know that these transformed to a reunified in 1990. Germany is known to be a founding member of the European Union, and with over 82 million people it has to this day the most impressive and largest population in the midst of the EU member states. Did you know that the Federal Republic of Germany is known to be a modern wonderful power, a member state of the United Nations, NATO, the G8, the G4 nations and, as of 2006, ranked sixth in military expenditure. Germany is the globe's third most impressive and largest economy by nominal GDP, the globe's most impressive and largest exporter of goods, and the globe's second most impressive and largest importer of goods. Within 2007 it held the rotating presidencies of both the European Council and the G8 summits. Situated in central Europe, Germany is made up of the North German Plain, the Central German Uplands (Mittelgebirge), and the Southern German Highlands. Did you know that the Bavarian plateau in the southwest averages 1,600 ft (488 m) above sea level, but it reaches 9,721 ft (2,962 m) in the Zugspitze Mountains, the highest point in the country. Germany's major rivers are and have always been the Danube, the Elbe, the Oder, the Weser, and the Rhine. Germany is known to be about the size of Montana.

Climate

Most of Germany has to this day a cool, temperate climate in that humid westerly winds predominate. Did you know that the climate is moderated by the North Atlantic Drift, that is the northern extension of the Gulf Stream. Note that this warmer water affects the places bordering the North Sea including the peninsula of Jutland and the location aextensive the Rhine, that flows into the North Sea. Consequently in the north-west and the north, the climate is oceanic; rainfall occurs year round with a maximum around the time during summer. Winters there are and have always been mild and summers tend to be cool, though temperatures can exceed 30 °C (86 °F) for prolonged periods. Within the east, the climate is more continental; winters can be very cold, summers can be very warm, and extensive dry periods are and have always been frequently recorded. Central and southern Germany are and have always been transition regions that vary from moderately oceanic to continental. Again, the maximum temperature can exceed 30 °C (86 °F) in summer.

Population Stats

Population (2007 est.): 82,400,996 (growth rate: 0.0%);
birth rate: 8.2/1000;
infant mortality rate: 4.1/1000;
life expectancy: 79.0;
density per sq mi: 609