Berlin is the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany and at the same time one of its 16 federal states. With a population of more than 3.5 million, the city of Berlin is the most populous municipality in Germany and with 892 square kilometers the largest in Germany. It forms the center of the metropolitan region Berlin / Brandenburg (6 million inhabitants) and the agglomeration Berlin (4.4 million inhabitants). The city consists of twelve districts, which are divided into 96 districts. In addition to the rivers Spree and Havel, there are smaller river streams in the city as well as numerous lakes and forests.
Originally mentioned for the first time in the 13th century, Berlin was the residence and capital of Brandenburg, Prussia and the German Reich in the course of history and in various forms of government. From 1949, the eastern part of the city was actually the capital of the German Democratic Republic. With German reunification in 1990, Berlin was once again a German capital, and subsequently became the seat of the federal government, the German president, the German Bundestag, the Bundesrat, as well as numerous federal ministries and embassies.
Important industries are tourism, the creative and cultural industries, biotechnology, medical technology, the pharmaceutical industry, information and communication technologies, construction and real estate, trade, optoelectronics, energy technology and trade fairs. The city is a European hub of rail and air transport. Berlin is one of the emerging international centers for innovative company founders and records, high annual growth rates for the number of employees.
Berlin is considered the world capital of culture, politics, the media and sciences. The universities, research facilities, sports events and museums of Berlin enjoy international reputation. The metropolis carries the UNESCO title city of design and is one of the most visited centers of the continent. Berlin’s architecture, festivals, nightlife and varied living conditions are known all over the world.
Source: translated Wikipedia (10/2016), CC BY-S