| Area |
357,021 sq km (137,847 sq miles). |
| Population |
82,057,379 (1997). |
| Capital |
Berlin - population 3,446,600 (1997). |
| Climate |
Temperature throughout the country with warm summers and cold winters, but prolonged periods of frost or snow are rare. Rain falls throughout the year. |
| Language |
German. English is widely spoken and French is also spoken, particularly in the Saarland. In the north of Schleswig-Holstein, Danish is spoken by the Danish minority and taught in schools. Regional dialects often differ markedly from standard German. |
| Religion |
Approximately 35 per cent Protestant, 34 per cent Roman Catholic with other non-Christian denominations |
| Time |
GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).
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| Highlights |
Berlin is the largest city in Germany; it has more to offer visitors than almost any city in Europe. Divided by a 162km wall until mid 1990, East and West Berlin remain separate - the West as an island of modern Western culture, parts of the East as cast-off ghettos until the sentiments and associations of the past are put aside. Germany has a wealth of attractions, which range from Oktoberfest, Antique city gates, Berlin Museum Island, the Cologne Cathedral to stunning Christmas markets.
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| Country Facts |
Germany shares borders with Switzerland, Poland, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Denmark, Czech republic, Belgium and Austria. The landscape varies incredibly, raging from forests, rolling lowlands, mountains to river basins. The country enjoys warms summers and cold winters. |