GERMANY

LOCATION
Germany is found in Central Europe. It is a land bordered by the North Sea,
Denmark, and the Baltic Sea to the North. Along its western edge, you can
find the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and France. It is bordered to
the South by Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Austria. Poland and the Czech
Republic lie along its eastern border. Germany is a land of many castles and
huge forests. In size, it is a little smaller than the state of Montana..
 
CLIMATE
Germany is on the cool side with a fair amount of cloudiness. It can be wet
both during the summer and winter. Many areas of the country experience deep
snows in the winter. Flooding is a natural hazard in this country.
 
POPULATION
As of July 2000, the population numbered 82,797,408. The country’s
population mix is 91.5% German, 2.4% Turkish, and 6.1% other (mostly
Serbo-Croatian, Italian, Russian, Greek, Polish, Greek, and Spanish).
In total there are 42,345,543 females, and 40,451,865 males.
 
RELIGION
Of the total population, it is estimated that 38% of the peoples are
Protestant, 34% are Roman Catholic, and 1.7% Muslim. There is a 26%
remainder that either hold other beliefs or are not affiliated with a
specific religion.
 
GENERAL
The official name of the country is Federal Republic of Germany. The city of
Berlin serves as its capital. Germany has a president who acts as the Chief
of State and a Chancellor who serves as Head of the Government.
Germany offers very generous social benefits, which has now become quite a
burden on the country. The aging population of Germany has now reached a
point where the annual payout exceeds contributions from the present workers.
Germany has voted to adopt the common European currency. The economic
integration of Europe is expected to bring changes in the German economy in
the future.
 
NATURAL RESOURCES
Germany’s natural resources are nickel, salt, copper, uranium, lignite,
potash, coal, iron ore, timber, natural gas, and arable land.
Agriculture in Germany produces cattle, pigs, poultry, fruit, cabbage,
potatoes, sugar beets, barley, and wheat.
It has a technologically powerful economy. In this field, Germany ranks
third in the world, behind only the U.S.A. and Japan.
Germany exports food, textiles, chemicals, machinery, and vehicles. However,
the country also imports many of these same types of products.
 
TRANSPORTATION
Germany has excellent highways, railway service, waterways inland, and major
shipping ports. As in many other European countries, Germany has major
airports offering worldwide service.
Germany has 59 Heliports.
Germany also stands as the trans-shipment point for illicit drugs, mostly
from the Southwest Such drugs include Asian heroin and Latin American
cocaine.
 
CURRENCY
The currency of Germany is the Euro. 
Facts and figures courtesy of the CIA World Facts Book.
 
ADDITIONAL LINKS
Explore a little of Germany by visiting these links www.Schwarzwald-online.com. Also visit the seat of government at www.bundestag.de. 
More scenery is available at www.alpirsbach.com/scenery.html