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German GeographyNestled in central Europe, Germany reaches from the Alps to the North and Baltic seas, covering an area of about 357,000 square kilometers. The elevation of the German nation ranges from the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest point at 2,962 meters, to its lowest point, Neuendorf-Sachsenbande, which lies 3.54 meters below sea level. The German geography also includes a number of Europe’s major rivers: the Elbe, Danube, and the Rhine. Being a large country in the middle of the continent, Germany shares more borders than any other country in Europe. Countries that border on Germany are: Denmark, Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Luxemburg, and the Netherlands. Much of the north of German geography is taken up by the North European Plain, a low lying area between the Central European Highlands and the North and Baltic Seas, which are separated by the Jutland peninsula. The Elbe, Ems, Weser, and Oder rivers all flow in a northerly direction across these plains. The borders with The Netherlands are lined with marshes, and glacier-formed lakes dot the landscape in the northeast. Central Germany is dominated by hilly and mountainous land that originated due to volcanic activity. It is here that the Rhine valley can be found, in the central western part of the German geography. This region is also covered by vast forests. Many of Germany’s cities, including Berlin and Frankfurt, are also located in this region. The landforms in the southern part of the German geography are mostly mountainous, consisting of the Swabian and Franconian Alb ranges. The source of the Danube River is also located in the south of Germany, along with such cities as Wurttemberg and Stuttgart. The Black Forest, which divides the Rhine from the Danube in the east, is also in the region, along Germany’s border with France. Much of the available land in Germany is either farmland, forest, or mountainous. Germany is also home to the largest culture caves on the continent, which can be found in Balve. The following natural resources are available within Germany’s borders: iron, coal, potash, timber, ignite, uranium, copper, natural gas, salt, and nickel. With a temperate marine climate that usually features cool, overcast and moist winters and summers, Germany falls in a climactic zone where humid winds blowing in a westerly direction are the norm. This feature of German geography means that it falls in an area where the seasons are comparatively mild, with cool summers and warm winters. However, this weather can vary toward either extreme in certain circumstances. |