Germany

Map

Climate Most of Germany has a relatively mild continental climate Warm summers and cool winters There aren’t really any temperature extremes Most of Germany gets 20 and 60 inches of precipitation

Natural Resources Coal is their most abundant resource Large amounts of Uranium found in German are used to fuel nuclear power plants Salt and potash can be found in the northern Harz Mountains

You can also find Kaolin clay (stuff used to coat pills and fancy papers) Important construction materials: limestone, dolomite, gypsum, feldspar, sand, gravel, talc, and soapstone

Landforms Germany has 3 geographical areas: the North German Plain, the central uplands, and the southern alpine region. Northern German Plain- stretches from France to Russia Sandy beaches, agricultural lands, and glacial moraines

Landforms cont. The central uplands Has hills low mountains and forests and forested sandstone plateaus The uplands give way to the Alps Germany’s Highest Peak is the Zugspitze (9,718 feet) in the Bavarian Alps

Landforms cont. Forests: Black Forest with 2,320 square-miles of trees Rivers: The Danube River The Rhine River Germany’s largest lake is Lake Constance

Food Cooking varies between north and south Northern Diet: Closer to a Scandinavian Diet Sticks to the staples; potatoes and fish Southern Diet: dumplings

Favorite Foods Sausage weissbratwurste- small white veal sausages mettwurst- spreadable sausage ganseleberwurst- goose-liver sausage Veal is “the most elegant meat” Veal cutlets Kaseschnitzel-cutlets stuffed with ham and cheese jagerschnitzel -veal filled with mushrooms and sour cream

Food Sauerkraut is cooked in champagne, in orange juice, or with oysters They eat tasty deserts during afternoon coffee hour or kaffee trinken Germany is famous for its beer

Traditions Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas markets)- during the advent season cities host markets that sell seasonal items this tradition dates back to the 14th century Putting up Christmas trees started in Germany in medieval times

Etiquette When you first meet someone a formal greeting is expected Germans are polite hosts and usually serve alcoholic beverages they are very relaxed towards alcohol consumption

Etiquette The legal beer drinking age is 16 The legal wine and spirits drinking age is 18 You can legally drink alcohol in public

German Virtues Germans take pride in their work ethnic and personal and business manners Virtues that Germans impute to themselves: Punctuality Precision accuracy rationality, planning meticulous attention to detail a sense of order

Environment Germany has 700 animal species and 2,600  plant species Common Plants: pruce, fir, beech, oak, and larch trees daisies, poppies, bellflowers, lavender Common mammals: foxes, wild boars, deer, beavers, badgers Wetland birds: Storks, egrets, ducks, geese

Environmental problems Air pollution Acid rain High environmental lead levels Germany is willing to help the environment They agree on many acts on air, water, animal protection, and other environmental protection acts.  

People Germany has 82 million people Danes, Frisians, and Sorbs are some of the few minority groups The main religion is Christianity The main language is German Danish, Frisian, and Sorbic are spoken by small minorities

History Germanic tribes have lived here since before Christ Thirty Years War (1618–1648) separated the Catholic and Protestant churches, and the Holy Roman Empire crumbled Prussia became a powerful country in the new federation created in 1815

Germany became a major Europe super power Germany’s expansion led to WWI in 1914 They had an economic crisis in the 1920s Nazis’ rose to power in 1933 Hitler then sparked WWII by invading Poland

Germany surrendered WWII in 1945 After the war the country was divided into East (Soviet ruled) and West Germany (US, UK, France ruled) In 1961 Soviets built the Berlin to separate the east and west

In 1989 increased pressure for economic and political reform caused eastern Germany’s leader to be replaced The Berlin Wall was destroyed East and West Germany reunited on October 3, 1990

Holidays Unity Day October 3: celebrates the unity of East and West Germany Ice World Festival January or early February: artists come to Lubeck to sculpt ice into art Dippemess March or April: a hige carnival in Frankfurt Oktoberfest October: a beer festival Biike Brennen February 21: big bonfires are lit to mark the end of winter

Contemporary Issues Islamist terrorism Has grown in Germany recently 32,000+ people belong to 1 of 28 Islamist groups in the country The European Union and pan-European policies They have always wanted to extend the power of the Union

Contemporary Issues Use of military forces: Their military relies heavily on international support US relationship Germany views differ from the US They disagreed on the invasion of Iraq Energy security Germany’s main energy reserves are lignite coal (a dirty type of coal)

Arts Most of the famous classical musicians were German like Bach and Beethoven They also have Volkstumliche Musik or Folk Music Popular music includes electronic music, rap, and heavy metal

Arts Hauptstadtrap is Berlin rap that focuses on the troubles in Berlin Germans go to theaters and concerts as regularly as Americans go to movies

Cathedrals built during the Holy Roman Empire Brandenburg Gate along with remains of the Berlin Wall Bauhaus school in Weimar and Dessau is modern architecture Landmarks

Government The Grundgesetz (Basic Law) is Germany’s constitution The head of state is the president They are elected by members of the Bundesversammlung (Federal Convention) The chancellor is head of government

Government The legislature is called the Bundestag (Federal Assembly) supposed to have 598 members but it’s usually higher The other legislative body is the Bundesrat (Federal Council) each state gets 3 to 6 members depending on population

Government Judiciary System Bundesverfassungsgericht (Federal Constitutional Court) Resolves conflicts about the basic law Bundesgerichtshof (Federal Court of Justice) highest court for ordinary criminal and civil cases Many other types of smaller courts Specific court systems that deal with labor, patents, taxes, etc. Citizens 18 and older can vote

Facts and Figures Internet Users 61,973,000 (2008) Total Active Armed Forces 250,613 (2010) Currency Euro Population 82,282,988 (estimate) (2009) Total Government Expenditures $1,618,000,000,000 (2009)

Facts and Figures Exported Goods Machinery and transportation equipment, machine tools, clothing, paper, chemicals and chemical products, fuels, metals, consumer goods. Roads, Paved 400,461 (2008) Crude Oil Consumption 937,685,000 (2008) Land Borders 2,250 miles

Article Summary Angela Merkel is Germany’s first female chancellor and first government leader to grow up in former East Germany In 1989 she left her physics researching job and joined the Democratic Awakening, a political group

Angela Merkel After the 1990 reunification Democratic Awakening merged into the Christian Democratic Union When her party was defeated she became it’s general secretary In 2000 she became CDU’s official leader She became chancellor on October 10, 2005

Citations Slide 1 picture Germany flag. Flag. (2011). In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/ Slide 2 picture Political Map. Map. (2011). In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/ Slide 3 Germany: Landforms & Climate. (2011). In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/ Slide 4 Germany: Natural Resources & Agriculture. (2011). In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/ Slide 5 Germany: Natural Resources & Agriculture. (2011). In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/ Slide 6 Germany: Landforms & Climate. (2011). In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/ Slide 7 Germany: Landforms & Climate. (2011). In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/ Slide 8 Germany: Landforms & Climate. (2011). In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/ Wait for it…

Slide 9 Germany: Food and Holidays. (2011). In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/ Slide 10 Germany: Food and Holidays. (2011). In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/ Slide 10 picture German sausages with sauerkraut. Image. Shutterstock. (2011). In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/ Slide 11 Germany: Food and Holidays. (2011). In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/ Slide 12 Kuhlke, Olaf. (2011). Germany: Traditions & Etiquette. In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/ Slide 13 Kuhlke, Olaf. (2011). Germany: Traditions & Etiquette. In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/ Slide 14 Kuhlke, Olaf. (2011). Germany: Traditions & Etiquette. In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/ Slide 14 picture Oktoberfest. Image. Corel. (2011). In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/ Slide 15 Kuhlke, Olaf. (2011). Germany: Traditions & Etiquette. In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/

Slide 16 Germany: Environment. (2011). In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/ Slide 17 Germany: Environment. (2011). In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/ Slide 18 Kuhlke, Olaf. (2011). Germany: People. In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/ Slide 18 picture Queen of Bad Homburg Lantern Festival. Image. Bad Homburg Laternenfest. (2011). In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/ Slide 19 Germany: History. (2011). In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/ Slide 20 Germany: History. (2011). In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/ Slide 21 Germany: History. (2011). In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/ Slide 21 picture West Germans peer over Berlin Wall. Image. Library of Congress. (2011). In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/ Slide 22 Germany: History. (2011). In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/

Slide 23 Germany: Food and Holidays. (2011). In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/ Slide 23 picture Dippemess fairway. Image. Tourismus+Congress GmbH Frankfurt am Main. (2011). In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/ Slide 24 Germany: Contemporary Issues. (2011). In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/ Slide 25 Germany: Contemporary Issues. (2011). In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/ Slide 26 Kuhlke, Olaf. (2011). Germany: Arts and Landmarks. In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/ Slide 27 Kuhlke, Olaf. (2011). Germany: Arts and Landmarks. In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/ Slide 28 Kuhlke, Olaf. (2011). Germany: Arts and Landmarks. In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/ Slide 28 picture Rebuilt cathedral in Dresden. Image. iStockPhoto.com. (2011). In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/ Slide 29 Germany: Government. (2011). In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/ Slide 29 picture: Sunset on the Reichstag building. Image. Corel. (2011). In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/

Slide 30 Germany: Government. (2011). In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/ Slide 31 Germany: Government. (2011). In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/ Slide 32 Facts and figures. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/Topics/Display/72?cid=1001&useConcept=False Slide 33 Facts and figures. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/Topics/Display/72?cid=1001&useConcept=False Slide 34 Angela Merkel. (2011). In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 5, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/ Slide 34 picture Angela Merkel. Image. Christlich-Demokratische Union. (2011). In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 5, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/ Slide 35 Angela Merkel. Image. Christlich-Demokratische Union. (2011). In World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. Retrieved February 5, 2011, from http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/ Song: Ich Bin Dein Gummibar

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