Berlin Germany
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Description: Berlin is the capital and largest city of Germany, both by area and by population. Its more than 3.85 million inhabitants make it the European Union’s most populous city, as measured by population within city limits. Simultaneously, the city is one of the States of Germany and is the third smallest state in the country in terms of area. Berlin is surrounded by the state of Brandenburg, and Brandenburg’s capital Potsdam is nearby.
The urban area of Berlin has a population of 4.5 million and is therefore the most populous urban area in Germany. The Berlin-Brandenburg capital region has around 6.2 million inhabitants and is Germany’s second-largest metropolitan region after the Rhine-Ruhr region, and the fifth-biggest metropolitan region by GDP in the European Union.
Population: 3,850,000
Demographics: The majority group (ethnic Germans) makes up 58% of the city’s inhabitants. Non nationals make up 22% of the city’s population. Berlin is home to at least 180,000 Turkish and Turkish German residents, making it the largest Turkish community outside of Turkey.
In the 1990s the Aussiedlergesetze enabled immigration to Germany of some residents from the former Soviet Union. Today ethnic Germans from countries of the former Soviet Union make up the largest portion of the Russian-speaking community.
The last decade experienced an influx from various Western countries and some African regions. A portion of the African immigrants have settled in the Afrikanisches Viertel. Young Germans, EU-Europeans and Israelis have also settled in the city.
History: Berlin lies in northeastern Germany. Most of the cities and villages in northeastern Germany bear Slavic languages-derived names. Typical Germanization for place name suffixes of Slavic origin are -ow, -itz, -vitz, -witz, -itzsch and -in, prefixes are Windisch and Wendisch. The name Berlin has its roots in the language of the West Slavs, and may be related to the Old Polabian stem berl-/birl- (“swamp”).
The earliest human settlements in the area of modern Berlin are dated around 60,000 BC. A deer mask, dated to 9,000 BC, is attributed to the Maglemosian culture. In 2,000 BC dense human settlements along the Spree and Havel rivers gave rise to the Lusatian culture. Starting around 500 BC Germanic tribes settled in a number of villages in the higher situated areas of today’s Berlin. After the Semnones left around 200 AD, the Burgundians followed.
In the 7th century Slavic tribes, the later known Hevelli and Sprevane, reached the region. In the 12th century the region came under German rule as part of the Margraviate of Brandenburg, founded by Albert the Bear in 1157. 1237 is considered the founding date of the city.
By 1700, approximately 30 percent of Berlin’s residents were French, because of the Huguenot immigration. Many other immigrants came from Bohemia, Poland, and Salzburg. The Industrial Revolution transformed Berlin during the 19th century; the city’s economy and population expanded dramatically, and it became the main railway hub and economic center of Germany. During World War II, large parts of Berlin were destroyed during 1943–45 Allied air raids and the 1945 Battle of Berlin.
The Allies dropped 67,607 tons of bombs on the city, destroying 6,427 acres of the built-up area. In 1989, with the end of the Cold War and pressure from the East German population, the Berlin Wall fell on 9 November and was subsequently mostly demolished. Today, the East Side Gallery preserves a large portion of the wall.
Elevation: 34 m
Climate: Oceanic climate. Average annual temperature in Berlin is 10 C (50 F), the average for July is 18 C (64 F), the average for January is -1 C (30 F).
Attractions: Reichstag Building, Brandenburg Gate, Topography Of Terror, Holocaust Memorial, Memorial Of Berlin Wall, Museum Island, Berlin Dom
Airports: Berlin Brandenburg Airport BER
Distance To City Centre: 30 km
Commute Length: 35 min
Average Transportation Cost: 55 EUR
Traffic Hours: 7 am – 9 am, 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm
