BerlinShort Info

Berlin

Berlin is the capital city of Germany and one of the 16 states of Germany

It is Germany's largest city and is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union

The nickname of Berlin is the “Grey City”

Geography

Berlin is situated in northeastern Germany

The river Spree flows through the city It is part of the vast Northern European

Plain that stretches from northern France to western Russia

There are many lakes and forests around the city

History

The earliest evidence of settlements in the area of today's Berlin are a wooden beam dated from approximately 1192

In 1539 city became the central site of German Lutheranism

In the Thirty Years’ War the city was devastated

In 1701, king Frederick I proclaimed Berlin as the capital city of Prussian Kingdom

In 1806, French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte conquered the city of Berlin

History

The Industrial Revolution transformed Berlin during the 19th century

The city's economy and population expanded dramatically, and it became the main rail hub and economic center of Germany

During the Weimar era, Berlin became internationally renowned as a center of cultural transformation

During World War II, large parts of Berlin were destroyed in the 1943–45 air raids and during the Battle of Berlin

The victorious powers divided the city into four sectors, analogous to the occupation zones into which Germany was divided

History

In 1948, the German Democratic Republic (GDR) was founded

East Germany proclaimed East Berlin (described as "Berlin") as its capital

On 13 August 1961, East Germany began the building of the Berlin Wall between East and West Berlin and similar barriers around West Berlin

The Berlin Wall fell on 9 November 1989 and was subsequently mostly demolished, with little of its physical structure remaining today

On 3 October 1990, the two parts of Germany were reunified as the Federal Republic of Germany, and Berlin again became the official German capital

Population

As of 31 December 2011, the city-state of Berlin had a population of 3.5 million registered inhabitants

In December 2010, 457,806 residents (13.5% of the population) were of foreign nationality, originating from 190 different countries

There are 101 061 Turks in the city and 10 025 Croats

Transpor

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A total of 979 bridges cross 197 kilometers of inner-city waterways

5,334 kilometers of roads run through Berlin, of which 73 kilometers are motorways (“Autobahn”)

Long-distance rail lines connect Berlin with all of the major cities of Germany and with many cities in neighboring European countries

Regional rail lines provide access to the surrounding regions of Brandenburg and to the Baltic Sea

There are also two commercial airports in the city

The citizens of Berlin are more likely to use bike than a car

Sport

Berlin has established a high-profile reputation as a host city of international sporting events

Berlin hosted the 1936 Olympics and was the host city for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Final

The IAAF World Championships in Athletics were held in the Olympiastadion in August 2009

The annual Berlin Marathon and the annual ÅF Golden League event are also held here

The FIVB World Tour has chosen an inner-city site near Alexanderplatz to present a beach volleyball Grand Slam every year

Main Sights

Branderburg Gate Berlin TV Tower (Fernsehenturm) Reichstag Berlin Catherdral (Dom) Alexanderplatz Olympic Stadium Section of Berlin Wall Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

Branderburg Gate

Fernsehenturm

Reichstag

Berlin Cathedral

Alexanderplatz

Olympic Stadium

Section of Berlin Wall

Memorial to the Murdered Jews in Europe

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