Germany, Berlin

Berlin is the capital city and one of the sixteen states of the Federal Republic of Germany. It is the heart of the Berlin-Brandenburg metropolitan region, located in northeastern Germany.With a population of 3.4 million in its city limits, Berlin is the country's largest city, and the second most populous city in the European Union. The Larger Urban Zone is home to 4.9 million people, and is the fifth largest in the EU.

Geography

Berlin is located in eastern Germany, about 110 kilometers (65 miles) west of the border with Poland. Berlin's landscape was shaped by ice sheets during the last ice age.

Demographics

Berlin is a center for national and international immigration since the Edict of Potsdam in 1685. The Edict guaranteed religious freedom and a tax-free status for ten years. The Greater Berlin Act in 1920 incorporated many suburbs and surrounding cities of Berlin.

Economy

In 2006 the nominal GDP of Berlin experienced a growth rate of 1.5 % and totaled €80.3 ($104.4) billion.Before the reunification of Germany and the two Berlin parts in 1990, the city of West Berlin received substantial subsidies from the West German state to compensate for its geographic isolation from West Germany.

Culture

Berlin is noted for its numerous cultural institutions, many of which enjoy international reputation.The city has a very diverse art scene, and is home to hundreds of art galleries. It hosts the annual Art Forum - an international art fair, focusing contemporary art.

Berlin has one of the most diverse and vibrant nightlife scenes in Europe.It is also home to many nightclubs, including Kunst Haus Tacheles, techno clubs Tresor, WMF, Ufo, E-Werk, the infamous Kitkatclub and Berghain.

The Karneval der Kulturen, a multi-ethnic street parade - celebrated every Pentecost weekend, and the Christopher Street Day - Central Europe's largest gay-lesbian pride event, are openly supported by the city's government.

Sports

Berlin hosted the 1936 Olympics and was the host city for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Final.The annual Berlin Marathon and the annual Golden League event ISTAF for athletics are also held here.

Transport

Public transport within Berlin is provided by the S-Bahn (331.5 km net length/ 375.8 million passengers in 2006) —operated by S-Bahn Berlin GmbH—and by the U-Bahn (144.2 km/ 456.8 million), Straßenbahn (187.7 km/ 171.3 million), Bus (1626 km/ 407.1 million), and ferries—operated by the Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe, or BVG.

Berlin has three commercial airports—Tegel International Airport (TXL), Tempelhof International Airport (THF), and Schönefeld International Airport (SXF) serving 155 destinations (07/2006)- 118 of them in Europe.