Germany

Germany forms part of the continent of Europe, where it has a coastal position and is bordered by Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland, the Baltic Sea and North Sea. There are seven continents in the world: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Europe, Antarctica, Australia (Oceania). Europe is the second smallest continent in the world, it has 51 countries, with some countries belonging to both Europe and Asia, spans a total area of 10,180,000 km2 and forms 6.8% of the world's landmass. Germany is a coastal country that occupies a total area of approximately 357,021 km2. It is the seventh largest country on the continent of Europe. Germany is smaller than Norway but larger than Finland.

The following information provides a guideline to the approximate border lengths of Germany:
Coastline 2,389 km, Austria 801 km, Belgium 133 km, Czech Republic 704 km, Denmark 140 km, France 418 km, Luxembourg 128 km, Netherlands 575 km, Poland 467 km, Switzerland 348 km.

Germany has a moderate climate characterized by cool, overcast, rainy winters and warm summers. The geography of Germany is composed of flat lowlands in the north, marshland and wetlands, central hilly areas and uplands, mountain regions, namely the Alps, in the south. The longest rivers that flow through Germany include the River Danube, Rhin, Rhine, Elbe and Oder. The Black Forest is an extensive forest mountain region located in southwest Germany. lowest point: Neuendorf bei Wilster -3.5m highest point: Zugspitze 2,963m

The official language of Germany is German, which is spoken by the overwhelming majority of the population.

The primary religion of Germany is Roman Catholic at approximately 29% of the population. Around 27% are Protestant, 4% Muslim, and 1% Orthodox Christian. The rest of the population either belongs to other religions or no religion at all.

Natural resources can be described as materials and substances found naturally occurring on Earth. Natural resources are very important across the world, and can be exploited for economic gain. The level of resources that occur naturally in an individual country are influenced by varying factors such as the geography, climate and location of that country. Some countries are very rich in natural resources, where as others have limited to none. Countries that have particularly rich resources include Russia, The United States, Saudi Arabia and Canada. Three of the primary uses of natural resources are food, transport and construction. The following examples provide information on the everyday uses of natural resources: Fish occurs naturally in many bodies of water and can be caught for food consumption. Crude oils can be refined into various fuels in order to power vehicles/cars. Wood/timber can be extracted from forests and used to construct houses and furniture. The natural resources found in Germany include coal, lignite, natural gas, iron ore, copper, nickel, uranium, potash, salt, construction materials, timber, and arable land suitable for growing crops.

Each country has its own individual culture, history and identity. Flags, emblems, symbols, mottos, colors, anthems and songs represent the national pride and identity of countries worldwide. These national symbols are formed through the unique history of a nation and are symbolic of both hardship and prosperity, embodying freedom, strength and unity. Flags, emblems, colors, songs and mottos reflect the past, present and future aspirations of a country, and create an important image to the rest of the world. National symbols can include a mixture of things that are symbolic to a nation such as wildlife, plants, geographical features, crops, tools of agriculture, and tools of war. The following facts and information provide a guide to some of the most important national symbols, songs and colors of Germany: