Willkommen! Welcome to the heart of Europe—Germany, a powerhouse of industry, philosophy, and history. There are around 84 million people living here, and the capital is Berlin, a city famous for its creative scene, turbulent history, and the iconic Brandenburg Gate. The official language is German.

Germany covers about 357,022 square kilometers (137,847 square miles). That’s roughly the same size as the state of Montana in the U.S., or about the same size as Japan in Asia. It stretches from the sandy beaches of the North and Baltic Seas to the jagged peaks of the Bavarian Alps in the south.

The most popular sport is Football, and the German national team is one of the most successful in history. Their national animal is the Federal Eagle (Bundesadler), a symbol of sovereignty and strength that has been used in various forms for centuries.

The flag consists of three horizontal stripes of black, red, and gold, where the colors represent the nineteenth-century volunteers who fought for the country and have since come to symbolize unity and freedom.

The food is hearty and regional. You must try Bratwurst, which comes in over 40 different regional varieties, or Schnitzel. In Berlin, the most famous street food is Currywurst, a sliced sausage slathered in spiced tomato sauce. Germany is also world-famous for its Bread (with over 3,000 types!) and its Beer, celebrated every year during the massive Oktoberfest in Munich.

Germany is home to the Autobahn, the world-famous highway system where some stretches have no federally mandated speed limit. It is also the land of Castles, with over 20,000 scattered across the country, including Neuschwanstein, which served as the inspiration for Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle. Germany is a global leader in Engineering and Innovation, being the birthplace of the modern automobile, the printing press, and MP3 technology. If you love nature, you can explore the Black Forest, a mountainous region of evergreen trees that inspired many of the Brothers Grimm’s fairy tales.

From the high-tech hubs of Munich and Stuttgart to the romantic Rhine Valley, Germany is a land of precision, tradition, and stunning landscapes. Danke! That means “Thank you!”