general overview
Geography:
total area: 357,581 sq km
land: 349,357 sq km
water: 8,224 sq km
lowest elevation: Neuendorf bei Wilster -3.54 m
highest elevation: Zugspitze 2,963 m
Germany (population 83 million) is slightly smaller than Montana and its terrain is made up of lowlands in the north, uplands in the center, and a mountainous south. It is bordered by Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, and Switzerland.
Climate:
The climate in Germany depends to some extent on the region, but it is generally mild. The north tends to have a more marine climate while the south a more continental. Temperatures generally average from the low 20’s in winter to the upper 70’s in summer, and rainfall is common throughout the year.
Economy:
Germany not only has the largest economy in the European Union, it is the third largest economy in the world. Germany's key industry areas are automotive, mechanical, electrical and precision engineering, chemicals, environmental technology, optics, medical technology, biotech and genetic engineering, nanotechnology, aerospace, and logistics.
Time:
Germany’s time zone is GMT + 1 hour, and is six hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time in the U.S. They, along with the rest of Europe, observe Summer Time, (Daylight Savings Time in the U.S), and the time changes on the last Sunday in March and the last Sunday in October.
Because the European time system is based on 24 hours instead of twelve, AM and PM do not exist. This means that 5:00 is 5:00 am and 17:00 is 5:00 pm. The only time in which this doesn’t usually apply is when asking someone what time it is. If it is after noon, the answer will - most of the time - be in a 12-hour format (8 o’clock instead of 20 hours).
Religion:
Making up approximately 60% of the population, Christianity is the largest religious faith in Germany. Of this, 50% are Protestant and 50% are Catholic. Muslims make up the next largest group, with a little over 5% of the population, and Jewish the third. Buddhists, Hindus, and Orthodox Christians are also among the larger religious minorities in Germany. In total, there are over 160 different religious communities.
Holidays:
Official holidays in Germany are are combination of both national and state holidays. On these days all businesses, private and commercial, are closed. Restaurants and gas stations, however, can remain open if they wish.
2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
Jan 01 | New Year's Day | all federal states |
Jan 06 | Epiphany (Heilige Drei Könige) | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Saxony-Anhalt |
March 08 | International Women's Day | Berlin |
March 29 | Good Friday (Karfreitag) | all federal states |
March 31 | Easter Sunday (Ostern) | no official holiday, Christian holiday |
April 01 | Easter Monday (Ostermontag) | all federal states |
May 01 | Labor Day (Tag der Arbeit) | all federal states |
May 9 | Ascension Day (Christi Himmelfahrt) | all federal states |
May 19 | Whit Sunday (Pfingstsonntag) | Brandenburg |
May 20 | Whit Monday (Pfingstmontag) | all federal states |
May 30 | Corpus Christi (Fronleichnam) | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland |
Aug 15 | Assumption Day (Maria Himmelfahrt) | Bavaria, Saarland |
Sept 20 | Children's Day (Weltkindertag) | Thuringia |
Oct 03 | German Unity Day (Tag der Deutschen Einheit) | all federal states |
Oct 31 | Reformation Day (Reformationstag) | Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia |
Nov 01 | All Saints Day (Allerheiligen) | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland |
Nov 20 | Repentance Day (Buß- und Bettag) | Saxony |
Dec 25 | Christmas (1. Weihnachtstag) | all federal states |
Dec 26 | Boxing Day (2. Weihnachtstag) | all federal states |
