GERMANY FROM A-Z

Facts about Germany for each letter of the alphabet.
Click on highlighted word for more information.

A IS FOR AGRICULTURE, ARCHEOLOGY, & ARCHITECTURE

• A large part of the land in Germany is used for AGRICULTURE. Most of the farms are a family business. The principal products are potatoes, wheat, barley, rye, sugar beets, cabbage, fruit, and dairy products. Dairy cattle are raised especially in Schleswig-Holstein. Many Open-Air Museums display typical old farms.

• Germany has many ARCHAEOLOGY sites with evidence of Teuton, Roman, and Celtic settlements. Trier, the oldest city in Germany, was the capital for the northern part of the Roman Empire. The Paleontology Museum in Munich has displays of dinosaurs and other artifacts. Xanten is an Archaeological Park. Hunsrückslate is a famous fossil deposit.

• The Bauhaus, a school of design, has had a strong influence over ARCHITECTURE and art. Buildings in Germany have a variety of architecture. The third largest dome in Europe is in the town of St. Blasien. The Weissenhof Row Houses are examples of modern architecture. Many castles and churches in South Germany are in Baroque Art, and the Honeylicker Baroque Angel is known among art students worldwide.

• Germany has a wide variety of BIRDS, and Bird Watching is a popular pasttime. The German Ornithological Society is the oldest Ornithological Society in the world. The Helgoland Bird Observatory is on North Sea Island. Fossils of the oldest known bird have been found in Germany. The White Stork is the National Bird of Germany. The House Sparrow was chosen Bird of The Year for 2003, the Zaunkoenig, also known as the winter wren, for 2004, and the Eagle Owl for 2005.

• Germany has hundreds of BRIDGES. The first covered bridges were built in this country in 1325. There are many modern steel bridge and an articulating bridge in Berlin. Freeway bridges are being built over the Wilde Gaer Valley2 and over the Gauchach Valley. One of the greatest railroad bridges in Germany is the bridge across the valley of the Wupper River.

• Berlin is the CAPITAL of Germany. The city has one of the largest and most eclectic collections of contemporary architecture in the world. The Memorial Church on Kurfürstendamm is a monument to peace. Nuremburg is known as the "Gingerbread Capital of the World".

• Germany has hundreds of CASTLES. Some are in ruins, some have been restored, and some have been converted into hotels. The castle at Disneyland in California was modeled after the Neuschwanstein Castle.

• The first attempts to measure time with wooden CLOCKS were made in Germany in medieval times. Furtwangen in the Black Forest is the heart of the German clock and watchmaking industry, & the site of a training school for watchmakers and clockmakers. The Clock Museum in Freiburg is home of the cuckoo clock. Other clock museums are in Gotha and Bad Pyrmont. A researcher from University of Bonn was one of three people to receive the Nobel Prize in Physics for work in development of atomic clocks.

• Germany has hundreds of DAMS that provide energy including 22 along a stretch of the Danube and 23 along a stretch of the Rhine. Most of the dams are hydroelectric but there are numerous gravity dams. Responsibility for water resource management is shared between the Federal Government and State Governments. Nuclear power and coal are also sources of energy. Germany leads the world in the production of wind power and is a leader in the development of solar power

• Several species of DINOSAURS once lived in Germany. Solnhofen is home to some of the best fossils in the world. The Paleontology Museum in Munich has displays of dinosaurs The Natural History Museum in Berlin has a collection of dinosaur and reptile fossiles. The Senckenberg Museum in Franfort and the Natural History Museum in Dortmund also feature dinosaurs.

• USGS monitors earthquakes in Germany. Earthquakes were first recorded in the country in the 9th century. Lisbon has had several severe earthquakes.

• Manufacturing is the foundation of the ECONOMY of Germany, and it is one of the most important industrialized countries in Europe. The Main industrial regions are the Ruhr, Bavaria, and Dresden. The chemical industry is one of Germanys most important. The country has a high reputation for design and workmanship of vehicles. Volkswagen is one of the largest manufacturers of motor vehicles in the world. Most of Germany's trade is within the European Community.

• The EDUCATION system in Germany has a long tradition of compulsory state schools. Public education is free and mandatory for ages 6-14. According to the Basic Law, the education system is the responsibility of individual state governments. The country provides many education programs for those with special needs.

• The Federal FLAG of Germany has three equal horizontal stripes in black, red, and gold. The Federal Coat of Arms has an eagle. Each of the Armed Forces of Germany has its own flag. Each state has its own flag.

• FOOD in Germany is varied and reflects the influence of nearby countries. A variety of fastfood is available. Grocery shopping in Germany is different than in the United States. The pretzel and gingerbread are believed to have originated in Germany. Thuringer sausage is named after the former region of Thuringia.

• FORESTS cover about one-third of Germany and provide lumber and paper products for the country. The Black Forest is the largest forest in Germany. The Thuringian Forest is a range of hills. The National Tree of Germany is the Oak.

• Germany has many GEOLOGY museums, and several gems are found in the country. Gemstone Mine is in Hunsruck. The mining of agate in the Nahe River Valley dates back to 1497. Idar-Oberstein is a major cutting center and has a Museum with a collection of precious stones and minerals from around the world. The German Mining Museum in Bochum is the largest mining museum in the world.. Minerals found in Germany include lignite, coal, rock salt, and potash. Germany is the second leading producer of Mineral Water and has 430 brands. The Ruhr area is a top producer of coal. Lignite is used basically for power production.The Bavarian Forest has numerous mines including Duke's Mine which is open to the public.

• The GLOBAL POSITION of Germany ranges from 52 to 30 degrees north latitude and 13 to 22 degrees east longitude. The country is located in central Europe. It is bordered on the north by the Baltic Sea and the North Sea and by several other countries to the east, west, and south. The lowest point in Germany is Freepsum Lake and the Zugspitze is the tallest mountain. The country is composed of nearly 138,000 square miles. Geocaching is a high-tech game using a Global Positioning System, and Germany has many geocaches.

• The GOVERNMENT of Germany is a democratic, federal, multi-party republic. The Reichstag in Berlin is the seat of German Government. The country is a member of the European Union. The country is also a member of the United Nations and is host to several UN institutions. Germany has Embassies in countries throughout the world, and many countries have Embassies in Germany.

• Many of the people in Germany are covered by Public Health Insurance. At the national level, 4 ministeries regulate the health care system. State laws apply to some part of the system. Medical Services including specialists and hospitals are located throughout Germany.

• The HISTORY of Germany dates back to the Neanderthals. People have been living in Germany for over 10,000 years, and the HISTORY of the country has been documented since 90 B.C. Germany has nearly 3 dozen World Heritage Sites including historic sites in Bavaria.

• Germany has fixed, public, and movable HOLIDAYS. Many special events are held throughout the year. Karneval (Fashing or Mardi Gras) is celebrated the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and is one of the biggest festivals in Germany. Octoberfest is the biggest annual fair in the world and has been held in Munich since 1810. Hesse has over 2,000 festivals a year. The oldest festival in Germany is the Oberammergau Passion Play.

• INTERNET service is available throughout Germany and there are many internet service providers. Some cities have internet cafes. Most schools, and Universities provide internet access to their students. The Federal Republic of Germany is online. Germany has several museums with a computer theme. The Heinz Nixdorf Museum Forum is the largest computer museum in the world. Webcams of cities and landscapes are located throughout Germany.

• Germany is home to many INVENTIONS and inventors. The most famous invention of all time is the Gutenberg printing press. Other inventions include cucko clocks, blue jeans, the mercury thermometer, and x-rays.

• Germany has nearly 300 ISLANDS. There are islands in the North Sea, and part of the East Frisian Islands are in Germany. There are also islands in lakes and rivers. The Pergamon Museum on Museum Island in Berlin has aworld famous collection of antiquities. Mainau Island in Lake Constance is known as the "Flower Island" and has a butterfly garden. Rugen Island in the Baltic is one of the largest islands in Germany.

• JAZZ is popular in Germany and Jazz Festivals are held throughout the year. Berlin has a Jazz Orchestra and hosts an annual Jazz Festival. The Stadtgarten Jazz Club and Concert Hall has several performances a month. Germany also has Regae concerts and festivals.

• The southern portion of the JUTLAND Peninsula is part of Germany.

• Germany has KARST and caves. The Harz Mountains has several karst areas. There are several types of caves and many Showcaves. The Laichinger Tiefenhohle is a vertical cave and the deepest cave in Germany. The Speleologic Museum is located here. There are over 5,000 registered Artificial Caves. South Germany is the main cave diving area in Germany. The caves under the town of Saalfeld were formed from an abandoned slate mine. The remains of middle pleistocene animals were found at the entrance of the Gutenberger Cave.

• Many aspects of life in Germany focus on KIDS. Germany for Kids has music and games. There are many fun places for kids to visit in Germany.

• A KILOMETER is a unit that measures distance. Almost every country in the world uses the metric system except the United States and part of the United Kingdom.

• Germany has been ruled by KINGS and Emperors. For its first 500 years, Nurnberg Castle was the residence of all German Kings and Emperors. Ludwig II built many castles, but the Linderhof Palace was the only one completed in his lifetime.

• There are many LAKES in Germany and most were formed by ancient glaciers from the Alps. Titisee is the bestknown of the Black Forest lakes. Lake Constance is the largest lake in the country. Konigssee Lake is a beautiful lake in the Alps.

• German is the official LANGUAGE of Germany but there are different dialects or accents. German and English belong to the West Germanic language family and share numerous words that are quite similar in pronunciation or spelling. Two familiar words are "Kindergarten" (children just entering school) and "gesundheit" (said to someone when they sneeze).

• Public and academic LIBRARIES are found through Germany. Many famous fairy tales and stories came from German writers. Stories by The Brothers Grimm are wellknown.

• Germany has many active LIGHTHOUSES and Light vessels. There are 2 old lighthouses at Cape Arkona.

• Germany has several branches of the MILITARY. Budingen is home of the 1-1 Armored Cavalry and has its own castle. Pansermuseum is the biggest tank & military vehicle museum in Germany. The Soviet War Memorial is in Berlin.

• Germany has used several types of MONEY. The money used in Germany today is the Euro which entered circulation in 2002. The Bundesbank oversees national implementation of the European monetary policy.

• Germany has several MOUNTAINS including the Harz Mountains in the center, the Hessian Mountains, and the Weser and Leine Mountains in the western and central. Only a small part of the Alps is in Germany, but the country has one of the highest Alpine peaks - The Zugspitze. The Karwendel mountains have some of the best hiking trails in the country.

• MUSEUMS are located thoughout Germany. The German Historical Museum was originally an arsenal. There are many state museums. The Vogtsbauenhofe Museum is an open air museum of farm life in the 16th and 17th century. The Berta Hummel Museum in Massing has the largest collection of Hummel figurines in Europe.

• MUSIC has long been a German tradition,and more than 100 music festivals are celebrated each year throughout the country. Germany has over 100 professional orchestras and over 100 opera houses. A unique type of music called Oom-pah originated in Germany. Yodeling is part of the folk music of Bavaria. The country has produced many famous composers.

• The official NAME of Germany is "Bundesrepublik Deutschland" or Federal Republic of Germany. Deuschland is the German name for Germany. The word "deutsch" comes from an old Teutonic word meaning people. It has also been known as the "Deutsches Reich" or German Empire. East Germany was the "Deutsche Demokratische Republik" or German Democratic Republic. Place names are often a combination of a root word indicating location and a personal name.

• Germany has many OBSERVATORIES, planetariums, astronomy clubs, and astronomy museums. The Bavarian Public Observatory in Munich has a Planetarium, Lecture Room Conference Room, and an Exhibition Hall. The Zugspitze has a meterological observatory. The Max Planck Institute for Astronomy operates the Calar Alto Observatory. Extersteine has natural rock formations that were used by the ancient Celts as a moon observatory. There is also an observatory in the Black Forest.

• Germany has many PARKS, Reserves, and other protected areas including 14 National Parks and 14 Biosphere Reserves. The Bavarian National Forest is the oldest National Park in the country. Berchtesgaden National Park is one of the oldest protected areas in the Alps. Germany also has Amusement, Theme, & Water Parks

• Germany has a population of nearly 83 million people and is one of the most heavily populated in the world. Many wellknown people have called Germany their home. German sur names often indicate where a person was born or their occupation.

• Germany has PORTS & harbors on the Baltic Sea, North Sea & along the rivers. The Port of Rostock is one of the biggest German Baltic ports. The Port of Kiel has deep-water harbor facilities & is connected to inland waterways. Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany & has the 2nd largest port in Europe.

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• Germany has a varied landscape made up of five main regions that run east-west across the country. The North German Plain is the largest region and is low and nearly flat and has lakes, heaths, and bogs. The Central Highlands stretches across the middle of the country and is a series of platues that range from nearly flat to mountainous. The Southern German Hills have long wooded ridges with fertile farmland and thick forests. The Black Forest is a mountainous region with deep, narrow valleys and is known for its mineral springs. The Bavarian Alps are part of the Alps, the largest mountain system in Europe, and has many lakes, streams, pastures, and fields of grains.

• Several RIVERS flow through Germany. The Rhine is the longest & one of the most important rivers. It is linked by canals to other major rivers and is used for shipping and transportation. It is connected to the Danube and provides a commercial route between the Black Sea and the North Sea. The Danube River flows into the Black Sea and all other German rivers flow into the North Sea or Baltic Sea. In 2002,Germany experienced devestating floods and the country is reconsidering policies toward its rivers. The Living Waters Programme is involved in improving the water quality of the major rivers in Germany.

• The varied geography of Germany makes it possible for sports enthusiasts to enjoy almost all of the SPORTS. The national sport is soccer. The German Sports Federation sponsors physical fitness programs. One of the clubs of the German Gymnastic Association was founded in 1816. Recreational sports include hiking, bicycling, and camping. Skiing is popular and the country has ski resorts that attract skiers from around the world.

• Germany is divided into 16 Federal STATES. The largest state is Bavaria which has 7 distinct regions and is the oldest state in Europe. The smallest state is Saarland. Evidence of human settlement there goes back to the stone age. Berlin and Hamburg are called "city states" and consist only of the city of their name. Bremen consists only of Bremen and Bremerhaven.

• Germany has modern telecommunications service linking all parts of the country and connecting with the rest of the world. The country has radio stations and television stations. Cellular telephone service is available and almost every in Germany has a cellphone.

• Transportation in Germany includes railroads, airports, and buses. The country has the 2nd largest road system in the world including many theme highways with each reflecting a feature unique to the region. The autobahns built in the 1930 were the first motorways in Europe. Officially there is no speed limit, but some states do impose them. Lufhansa is the National Airlines. Cities have excellent public transportation systems. Germany has many museums with transportation themes. The first license plates of Germany were in issued in 1869. The license plate system of the Federal Republic of Germany began in 1949. Information about driving in Germany is available.

• Over 2 dozen historic sites in Germany are on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites including the Shrine of the Three Kings. Two new ones were recently added - The Upper Middle Rhine Valley and Historic Centres of Stralsund Wismar.

• In 1990 there was a UNIFICATION of The Federal Republic of Germany in the west and the German Democratic Republic in the east. Between 1949 and 1990 the 2 areas had been separate. The Berlin Wall was a symbol of the Cold War. The Brandenburg Gate is the most famous landmark in Germany.

• Germany has many UNIVERSITIES. Attendance at the universities is free and divided into general studies and a period of specialization later. Most Colleges of Education have been merged with universities. The University of Heidelberg is one of the oldest Universities in Europe.

• Germany has a wide variety of VEGETATION including heather, mosses, and lichens. Broom, juniper and brachen grow in the heaths in the north. The Bavarian Alps have wildflowers in the spring. The country has several nature parks and nature reserves for preservation and research. The National Flower of Germany is the Cornflower. EU Nature integrates nature protection into EU policies.The Englischer Garten in Münich is one of the largest city parks in Europe.

• Germany has many VINEYARDS and wineries. Many of the vineyards owe their existence to the Rhine River. The Bernkastel vinyards are the most colorful of the wine towns in the Mosel Valley.

• Evidence of VOLCANOES is located at the Eifel Volcanic Field. The area is the target of a research project. The Eifel Volcano Field contains ash cones, lava domes, and explosion craters and is separated into east and west. The West Eifel Volcanic Field has over 200 individual volcanoes, and the East Eifel Volcanic Field has about 100. The Vogelsberg is the largest volcanic structure of central Europe.

Germany has nearly 200 WATERFALLS. The highest waterfall is located in Triberg. The Rhine Falls are a set of three falls and the biggest falls in middle Europe.
• The WEATHER in Germany is mild. The average temperature in January, the coldest month, is about 30 degrees. The hottest month, July, has an average temperature of about 70 degrees. The country has approximately 20-40 inches of rain a year.

• Germany has many species of WILDLIFE and many are endangered. Deer, lynx, and pine marten live in the forests. Beavers live in the Elbe Valley. The country has over 30 wildlife overpasses that serve as safe passage for wildlife, local farm vehicles and residents, and more are under construction. One of Europe's oldest animal reserves surrounds Dornroschenschloss Sababury Castle and includes horses, wild boars, and bison.The Biological Protection Association preserves and protects wild plants and animals. Germany has included protection of animals as part of its Basic Law. The and other heaths are protected game reserves. Germany is involved in the international efforts to protect species.

• XMAS is the common abbreviation for Christmas and is celebrated in Germany much as it is around the world. Many Christmas traditions began in Germany including decorating Christmas trees and the Christmas Pickle. St. Martin's Day is the official beginning of the Christmas season. Christmas Markets in Germany are unique. There is a Christmas Museum in Rottenburg obder Tauber. There is a flower in Germany called The Christmas Rose.

• YMCA organizations are located throughout Germany. The name in German is CVJM which means "Christlicher Verein Junger Menschen". Germany has about 140 different Scout-Organization.

• The first YOUTH HOSTEL in the world was opened in Germany in 1908. The country is a leader in hosteling and has more Youth Hostels than any other country. They are open to anyone in Germany, but travelers are required to produce an International Youth Hostel Card. There are also Elderhostels in Germany that offer education and travel opportunites for adults 55 and over.

• Germany has several vegetation ZONES. The country is in the Central European Time Zone with daylight savings time in the summer.

• Germany has dozens of zoos. The Augsburg Zoo has more than 2,000 animals. The Hagenbeck Zoo in Hamburg is one of Europe's most beautiful animal parks. The Berlin Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in Germany and the only one with pandas and polar bears.