 GERMANY
The Federal Republic of Germany is Europe's most populous
and richest country. With more than 82 million people, Germany's
citizens enjoy a high standard of living, with universal
health care, low crime rates, and high investment in infrastructure
and education.
Germany's People
More than 91 percent of people are ethnically German. Turkish
is the next largest ethnic group, at 2.4 percent of the
population. The remaining 6.1 percent are mostly Serbo-Croatian,
Italian, Greek, Russian, Polish and Spanish.
Economy
After the U.S. and Japan, Germany is the world's most technologically
powerful country. Nevertheless, the generous social benefits
system has begun to take its toll on the economy, and
the government has already begun cutting back on some
services. The high unemployment rate of 10 percent or
more continues to be long-term problem because of the
high contribution rates for social programs on wages.
As Germany's aged population increases, the country will
struggle more to meet citizens' demands.
National Holiday
German Unity Day - October 3 - celebrates the unification
of West and East Germany on October 3, 1990.
Time Zone
Germany is on Central European Time, which is six hours
ahead of U.S. Eastern Standard Time.
Capital City
Berlin is Germany's capital city. Once divided, reunited
Berlin now has the seat of the German Government and
Parliament. The old "Reichstag" or Parliament
Building has undergone renovation, complete with a beautiful
glass dome. The old Potsdam Square in the middle of the
city is now called "Daimler City."
The Southern Region
Here's travel information, tips and links for the southern
part of Germany. This region is the most visited one
of Germany and includes Bayern (Bavaria) and Baden-Württemberg
with such cities as Nürnberg (Nuremberg), München
(Munich), Passau, Stuttgart, Karlsruhe, Baden-Baden,
Heidelberg, and Augsburg.
The Western Region
Travelers to the western region of Germany will find magnificent
cathedrals, well-preserved Roman ruins, and ancient towns,
and a thriving modern-day life. The federal states in
this region are Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland, and Nordrhein-Westfalen.
Well-known cities include Kaiserslautern (K-town), Mainz,
Koblenz, Saarbrücken, Köln (Cologne), Aachen,
Düssledorf, and Bonn.
The Northern Region
Here you'll find travel information, tips and links for
the northern part of Germany, including Niedersachsen
(Lower Saxony), Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern,
and the city-states Hamburg and Bremen. Some well-known
cities are Kiel, Flensburg, Lüneburg, Hannover,
and Rostock.
The Eastern Region
Eastern Germany has a rich, distinctive history and plenty
to see and do for travelers. Discover Leipzig, Dresden,
and Berlin's own eastern part. The federal states in
this region are Brandenburg, Sachsen, and the city-state
of Berlin.
The Central Region
Travelers to the central region of Germany will find the
financial powerhouse of Germany, the largest German airport,
the hotspot for commercial activities, as well some of
Germany's most beautiful forests. The federal states
in this region are Hessen, Thüringen, and Sachsen-Anhalt.
Cities include Frankfurt/Main, Wiesbaden, Giessen, Kassel,
Weimar, Eisenach, and Erfurt.
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