Berlin
Article
July 6, 2022
Berlin (German: Berlin) is the capital and one of the sixteen states of Germany. With a population of 3.5 million within the city limits, it is the largest city in the country, and the seventh most populated urban area in the European Union. Situated in northeastern Germany, it is the center of the Berlin-Brandenburg metropolitan area, which includes 5 million people from over 190 nations. Located on the great European plain, Berlin is influenced by a temperate seasonal climate. About a third of the city's area is made up of forests, parks, gardens, rivers and lakes. Documented for the first time in the 13th century, Berlin was successively the capital of the Kingdom of Prussia (1701-1918), of the German Empire (1871-1918). 1918), the Weimar Republic (1919-1933) and the Third Reich (1933-1945). After World War II, the city was divided; East Berlin became the capital of East Germany, while West Berlin became an exclave of West Germany, surrounded by the Berlin Wall, between the years 1961-1989; the city of Bonn became the capital of West Germany. After German reunification in 1990, the city regained its status as the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany, hosting 147 foreign embassies. Berlin is a global city and one of the world's most influential centers of culture, politics, media and science. Its economy is primarily based on the service sector, encompassing a diverse range of creative industries, media corporations and convention venues. Berlin also serves as a continental hub for air and rail transport and is a popular tourist destination. Significant industries include IT, pharmaceuticals, biomedical engineering, biotechnology, electronics, traffic engineering and renewable energy. The city serves as a major hub for continental transportation and is home to some of the most important universities, sporting events, orchestras and museums. The metropolis' rapid development has brought an international reputation to its festivals, contemporary architecture and nightlife, being a major tourist center and home to people from 180 different nations.