GERMANYGERMANY

LOCATION Germany is in the

centre of Europe, bordering the North Sea and the Baltic Sea between the Netherlands and Poland, and in the south of Denmark.

CLIMATECLIMATE

The climate is The climate is temperate and temperate and marine. Cool, marine. Cool, cloudy, wet winters cloudy, wet winters and summers. and summers. Occasional warm, Occasional warm, tropical wind; high tropical wind; high relative humidity. relative humidity.

NATIONAL PARKSNATIONAL PARKS National parks National parks

are:following are the are:following are the national parks of national parks of Germany, sorted from Germany, sorted from north to south:north to south:

Schleswig-Holstein Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park Wadden Sea National Park

Hamburg Wadden Sea Hamburg Wadden Sea National Park National Park

Lower Saxony Wadden Sea Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park National Park

Jasmund National Park Jasmund National Park Vorpommern Lagoon Area Vorpommern Lagoon Area National ParkNational Park

Müritz National Park Müritz National Park Lower Oder Valley Lower Oder Valley National Park Harz National Park Harz National Park . National Park .

GERMAN SOCIETYGERMAN SOCIETY Population: 81,338,000 (July Population: 81,338,000 (July

1995 estimate) with growth 1995 estimate) with growth rate of 0.26 percent (July rate of 0.26 percent (July 1995 estimate).1995 estimate).

Ethnic Groups: 95.1 percent Ethnic Groups: 95.1 percent German, 2.3 percent Turkish, German, 2.3 percent Turkish, 1.7 percent Italian, 0.4 1.7 percent Italian, 0.4 percent Greek, and 0.4 percent Greek, and 0.4 percent Polish; remainder percent Polish; remainder mainly refugees from former mainly refugees from former Yugoslavia.Yugoslavia.

Languages: Standard Languages: Standard German, with substantial German, with substantial differences in regional differences in regional dialects. Three very small dialects. Three very small linguistic minorities, which linguistic minorities, which speak Serbian, Danish, or speak Serbian, Danish, or Frisian.Frisian.

THE FLAGTHE FLAG

The flag of Germany The flag of Germany was adopted in its was adopted in its present form in 1919. present form in 1919. It was readopted with It was readopted with the new constitution the new constitution of 1949. It is a of 1949. It is a tricolour, made of tricolour, made of three equal horizontal three equal horizontal bands coloured black bands coloured black (top), red, and gold (top), red, and gold (bottom).(bottom).

THE GERMAN WALLTHE GERMAN WALL

The German wall The German wall was built on August was built on August 13, 1961, it divided 13, 1961, it divided the American, the American, British, French and British, French and SovietSovietsector. When the sector. When the wall was broken all wall was broken all the people went the people went out the street to out the street to celebrate it.celebrate it.

TRADITIONSTRADITIONS

Traditions: The tradition of the Traditions: The tradition of the Christmas tree began in Christmas tree began in Germany. During the Middle Germany. During the Middle Ages, Miracle plays were put on Ages, Miracle plays were put on to teach the peasants the to teach the peasants the stories of the bible. A decorated stories of the bible. A decorated evergreen tree representing the evergreen tree representing the tree of life (Paradise Baum) was tree of life (Paradise Baum) was present on the stage. The present on the stage. The Christmas tree represents that Christmas tree represents that tree of life. Tradition states that tree of life. Tradition states that when St. Boniface was when St. Boniface was preaching among the German preaching among the German tribes, he cut down an Oak tree tribes, he cut down an Oak tree that was sacred to the that was sacred to the Germans. As the tree fell it Germans. As the tree fell it crushed all the other trees crushed all the other trees around it except a fir tree. This around it except a fir tree. This fir, Boniface declared, was the fir, Boniface declared, was the tree of Christ and that is why it tree of Christ and that is why it is associated with Christmas.is associated with Christmas.

TO THE PUPILSTO THE PUPILS

We want to tell you We want to tell you

that if you want, that if you want, you can come here you can come here to Spain.to Spain.

We think your We think your country is very country is very interesting and nice. interesting and nice. We like the history We like the history of Germany !!!of Germany !!!