Berlin is the capital of Germany and one of the country’s 16 states. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populated urban area in the European Union, with a population of 3.5 million people. It is the center of the Berlin-Brandenburg Metropolitan Region, which includes around six million citizens from over 180 countries. It is located in northeastern Germany on the banks of the rivers Spree and Havel.
Berlin has a mild seasonal climate due to its position in the European Plain. Forests, parks, gardens, rivers, and lakes cover around one-third of the city’s land area.
Berlin was founded in the 13th century and became the capital of the Margraviate of Brandenburg (1417–1701), the Kingdom of Prussia (1701–1918), the German Empire (1871–1918), the Weimar Republic (1919–1933), and the Third Reich (1933–1945). In the 1920s, Berlin was the world’s third biggest municipality. Following WWII, the city was split; East Berlin became the capital of East Germany, while West Berlin became a de facto West German exclave encircled by the Berlin Wall (1961–1989) and East German territory. Following German reunification in 1990, Berlin was proclaimed as the capital of a united Germany once again.
Berlin is a global cultural, political, media, and scientific center. Its economy is built on high-tech companies and the service sector, which includes a wide variety of creative industries, research institutes, media businesses, and convention sites. The city is a major tourist attraction. IT, pharmaceuticals, biomedical engineering, clean tech, biotechnology, construction, and electronics are additional important sectors.
Modern Berlin is home to world-class colleges, orchestras, museums, and entertainment facilities, as well as many athletic events. Because of its metropolitan surroundings, it has become a popular site for international film productions. The city is well-known for its festivals, unique architecture, nightlife, modern arts, and good living standards. Berlin has witnessed the rise of a multicultural business sector during the previous decade.