Berlin
3354
225983823
2008-07-16T09:27:02Z
Angr
157842
rv: far too specific for an article about the entire city. If not a copyvio or advertising, [[Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe]] would be a more appropriate article for it.
{{otheruses1|the capital of Germany}}
{{Infobox German Bundesland
|Name = Berlin
|German_name =
|image_photo = Cityscapeberlin2006.JPG
|state_coa = Coat of arms of Berlin.svg
|coa_size = 70
|map = Berlin in Germany and EU.png
|map_size = 270
|map_text = Location within [[Europe]] and [[Germany]]
|flag = Flag of Berlin.svg
<!--|flag2 = Flag of Berlin (state).svg-->
|area = 891.82
|area_source =
|population = 3416300
|pop_ref = <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statistik-portal.de/Statistik-Portal/de_zs01_bl.asp |title=State population |work=Portal of the Federal Statistics Office Germany |accessdate=2007-04-25}}</ref>
|pop_date = 2007-12-30
|pop_urban = 3700000
|pop_metro = 4940000
|elevation = 34 - 115
|GDP = 81.7
|GDP_year = 2007
|Website = [http://www.berlin.de/english/index.html berlin.de] / [http://www.3d-stadtmodell-berlin.de/3d/en/seite0.jsp 3D Berlin]
|leader_title = [[List of mayors of Berlin|Governing Mayor]]
|leader = Klaus Wowereit
|leader_party = SPD
|ruling_party1 = SPD
|ruling_party2 = PDS
|votes = 4
|divisions = 12 [[Boroughs of Berlin|boroughs]]
|NUTS = DE3
|State = Berlin
|Vorwahl = 030
|Kfz=B |iso region=DE-BE |PLZ=10001–14199
|lat_deg=52 |lat_min=31 |lon_deg=13 |lon_min=25
}}
'''Berlin''' is the [[capital]] city and one of sixteen [[States of Germany|states]] of [[Germany]]. With a population of 3.4 million in its city limits, Berlin is the country's largest city. It is the second [[Largest cities of the European Union by population within city limits|most populous city]] and the ninth [[Largest urban areas of the European Union|most populous urban area]] in the [[European Union]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.insee.fr/fr/ffc/chifcle_fiche.asp?ref_id=CMPTEF01103&tab_id=18|title= Population des villes et unités urbaines de plus de 1 million d'habitants de l'Union européenne|author=[[INSEE]]|accessdate=2007-10-22}}</ref> Located in northeastern Germany, it is the centre of the Berlin-[[Brandenburg]] [[Larger Urban Zones (LUZ) in the European Union|metropolitan area]], comprising 5 million people from over 180 nations.<ref name=LUZ>[http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page?_pageid=1996,45323734&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL&screen=welcomeref&open=/&product=EU_MASTER_urban_audit&depth=2 Indicators for larger urban zones 1999 - 2003], Eurostat. Accessed [[March 9]], [[2007]]</ref>
First documented in the 13th century, Berlin was successively the capital of the [[Kingdom of Prussia]] (1701-1918), the [[German Empire]] (1871-1918), the [[Weimar Republic]] (1919-1933) and the [[Nazi Germany|Third Reich]] (1933-1945).<ref>[http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/germanunification.html Documents of German Unification, 1848-1871], Modern History Sourcebook, Accessed [[May 30]], [[2007]]</ref> After the [[Second World War]], the city was divided; [[East Berlin]] became the capital of [[German Democratic Republic|East Germany]] while [[West Berlin]] became a [[West Germany|Western]] [[enclave]], surrounded by the [[Berlin Wall]] from 1961-1989.<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9078806 Berlin Wall], Encyclopædia Britannica, Accessed [[November 5]], [[2006]]</ref> Following the [[German reunification|reunification of Germany]] in 1990, the city regained its status as the capital of all Germany.<ref>[http://www.germany.info/relaunch/info/archives/background/berlin.html Berlin{{ndash}} Capital of Germany], German Embassy, Accessed [[May 30]], [[2007]]</ref>
Berlin is a major center in [[European politics]], [[culture]], [[Mass media|media]], and [[science]].<ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/06/22/travel/22berlin.php Berlin, the big canvas], International Herald Tribune, Accessed [[June 22]], [[2008]]</ref><ref>[http://www.statistik-bw.de/Europa/EUinnovIndex.asp Innovationsindex für die Länder der EU](German), Baden-Württemberg Stat Office, Accessed [[October 20]], [[2006]]</ref><ref>[http://www.lboro.ac.uk/gawc/rb/rb146.html#t5 Sites and situations of leading cities in cultural globalisations/Media], GaWC Research Bulletin 146, Accessed [[October 20]], [[2006]]</ref> It serves as a continental hub for air and rail transport. The city's economy is primarily based on the service sector, encompassing a diverse range of [[creative industries]], media corporations, environmental services, congress and convention venues.<ref name=congress>[http://www.iccaworld.com/npps/story.cfm?ID=1577 ICCA publishes top 20 country and city rankings 2007], ICCA, Accessed [[April 17]], [[2008]]</ref><ref name=Cityofdesign>[http://portal.unesco.org/culture/en/ev.php-URL_ID=29376&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html Berlin City of Design Press Release], UNESCO, Accessed [[October 20]], [[2006]].</ref> Berlin is the third most-visited [[tourist destination]] in the EU.<ref name=tourist>[http://www.berlin-tourist-information.de/english/reiseveranstalter/index.html Berlin Germany's most popular Destination], Tourismus Marketing GmbH, Accessed [[October 20]], [[2006]]</ref> Other industries include [[traffic engineering]], [[optoelectronics]], [[Information technology|IT]], [[Automaker|vehicle manufacturing]], [[health care]], [[biomedical engineering]], and [[biotechnology]].
The [[metropolis]] is home to world-renowned universities, research institutes, sporting events, orchestras, museums and personalities.<ref name=UNESCO>[http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/896 World Heritage Site Museumsinsel], UNESCO, Accessed [[October 20]], [[2006]]</ref> Berlin's urban landscape and historical legacy has made it a popular setting for international film productions.<ref>[http://www.theage.com.au/news/arts/walltowall-culture/2007/11/09/1194329483873.html Wall-to-wall culture], The Age, Accessed [[November 30]], [[2007]]</ref> The city is recognized for its festivals, diverse architecture, nightlife, contemporary arts and a high quality of living.<ref>[http://travel2.nytimes.com/2004/12/12/travel/12surf.html?ex=1150862400&en=f2c1cc6c507fea18&ei=5070 The Club Scene, on the Edge], New York Times, Accessed [[October 20]], [[2006]]</ref><ref>[http://www.citymayors.com/features/quality_survey.html Ranking of best cities in the world], City mayors, Accessed [[July 10]], [[2008]]</ref><ref>[http://www.denmark.dk/NR/rdonlyres/60B9101D-B656-438E-A755-E441D41E0AA7/0/top_20_cities.pdf The Monocle Quality Of Life Survey], www.denmark.dk, Accessed [[July 10]], [[2008]]</ref>
During the last decade Berlin has evolved into a global focal point for young individuals and artists attracted by [[Liberalism|liberal lifestyle]] and modern [[zeitgeist]].<ref>[http://travel2.nytimes.com/2005/03/13/travel/13berlin.html?ex=1150862400&en=aa7cfc51a1aa6cbc&ei=5070 For Young Artists, All Roads Now Lead to a Happening Berlin], New York Times, Accessed [[November 5]], [[2006]]</ref><ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14755857/site/newsweek/ Poor But Sexy], Newsweek, Accessed [[October 20]], [[2006]]</ref>
== History ==
{{main|History of Berlin}}
[[Image:Friedrich Zweite Alt.jpg|thumb|upright| [[Frederick II of Prussia]] was one of Europe's [[Enlightened absolutism|enlightened monarchs]].]]
The name ''Berlin'', which is {{pronEng|bɚˈlɪn}} in [[English language|English]] and {{Audio-IPA|de-Berlin.ogg|/bɛɐˈliːn/}} in [[German language|German]], is of unknown origin, but may be related to the Old [[Polabian language|Polabian]] stem ''berl-''/''birl-'' "swamp".<ref>Berger,Dieter. ''Geographische Namen in Deutschland'', Bibliographisches Institut, 1999. ISBN 3-411-06252-5</ref>
The earliest evidence of Berlin is an artifact dated approximately 45 years before the official founding of the city. A wooden beam from a cellar near the (demolished) Petrikirche in Petriplatz, which is now located in Berlin's [[Mitte]] District but was originally part of [[Cölln]], has been dated to 1157.<ref name = "zycwaq">Rising, David. Associated Press article, [[January 30]], [[2008]], quoting city-state official Karin Wagner.</ref> The first written mention of towns in the area of present-day Berlin dates from the late 12th and early 13th century. The [[suburb]] of [[Spandau]] is first mentioned in 1197,<ref>[http://www.berlin.de/tourismus/sehenswuerdigkeiten.en/00175.html Spandau Citadel], Berlin.de, Accessed [[July 1]], [[2008]]</ref> and [[Köpenick]] in 1209, though these areas did not join Berlin until 1920. The central part of Berlin can be traced back to two towns: [[Cölln]] (on the [[Museum Island|Fisher Island]]) is first mentioned in a 1237 document that references a priest at Petrikirche.<ref name = "zycwaq"/> Berlin (across the Spree in what is now called the [[Nikolaiviertel]]) is referenced in a document from 1244. From the beginning, the two cities formed an economic and social unit. In 1307, the two cities were united politically. Over time, the twin cities came to be known simply as Berlin, the larger of the pair.
In 1415, [[Frederick I, Margrave of Brandenburg|Frederick I]] became the [[prince-elector|elector]] of the [[Elector of Brandenburg|Margraviate of Brandenburg]], which he ruled until 1440.<ref>[http://www.west.net/~antipas/protected_files/news/europe/hohenzollerns.html The Hohenzollern Dynasty], Antipas, Accessed [[July 1]], [[2008]]</ref> His successor, [[Frederick II, Elector of Brandenburg|Frederick II]], established Berlin as capital of the margraviate, and subsequent members of the [[Hohenzollern]] family ruled until 1918 in Berlin, first as electors of Brandenburg, then as kings of [[Prussia]], and finally as German emperors. In 1448 citizens rebelled in the “Berlin Indignation” against the construction of a new royal palace by Elector [[Frederick II, Margrave of Brandenburg|Frederick II Irontooth]]. This protest was not successful, however, and the citizenry lost many of its political and economic privileges. In 1451 Berlin became the royal residence of the Brandenburg electors, and Berlin had to give up its status as a free [[Hanseatic League|Hanseatic]] city. In 1539, the electors and the city officially became [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]].<ref>[http://www.smp-protein.de/SMPConference/berlin.htm Berlin Cathedral], SMPProtein, Accessed [[July 1]], [[2008]]</ref>
===17th to 19th century===
[[Image:Reichsgruendung2.jpg|thumb|Berlin became the capital of the [[German Empire]] in 1871 after its proclamation in Versailles-France ([[Bismarck]] at the center in white).]]
The [[Thirty Years' War]] between 1618 and 1648 had devastating consequences for Berlin. A third of the houses were damaged and the city lost half of its population.<ref>[http://www.zum.de/whkmla/region/germany/bra30.html Brandenburg during the 30 Years War], WHKMLA, Accessed [[July 1]], [[2008]]</ref> [[Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg|Frederick William]], known as the “Great Elector”, who had succeeded his father [[George William of Brandenburg|George William]] as ruler in 1640, initiated a policy of promoting [[immigration]] and [[religious toleration|religious tolerance]]. With the [[Edict of Potsdam]] in 1685, Frederick William offered [[right of asylum|asylum]] to the French [[Huguenot]]s. More than 15,000 Huguenots went to Brandenburg, of whom 6,000 settled in Berlin. By 1700, approximately twenty percent of Berlin's residents were French, and their cultural influence on the city was immense. Many other immigrants came from [[Bohemia]], [[Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth|Poland]], and [[Archbishopric of Salzburg|Salzburg]].
With the coronation of [[Frederick I of Prussia|Frederick I]] in 1701 as king, Berlin became the capital of the [[Kingdom of Prussia]]. In 1740 Frederick II, known as [[Frederick the Great]] (1740-1786) came to power. Berlin became, under the rule of the philosophically-oriented Frederick II, a center of [[the Enlightenment]]. Following [[First French Empire|France's]] victory in the [[War of the Fourth Coalition]], [[Napoleon Bonaparte]] marched into Berlin in 1806, but granted self-government to the city. In 1815 the city became part of the new [[Province of Brandenburg]]. The [[Industrial Revolution]] transformed Berlin during the 19th century; the city's economy and population expanded dramatically, and it became the main rail hub and economic center of Germany. Additional suburbs soon developed and increased the area and population of Berlin. In 1861, outlying suburbs including [[Wedding (Berlin)|Wedding]], [[Moabit]], and several others were incorporated into Berlin. In 1871, Berlin became capital of the newly founded [[German Empire]]. On [[1 April]] [[1881]] it became a city district separate from Brandenburg.
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===20th century===
[[Image:Potsdamer Platz 1945.jpg|thumb|Berlin in ruins after [[World War II]] (Potsdamer Platz, 1945).]]
At the end of the [[First World War]] in 1918, the [[Weimar Republic]] was proclaimed in Berlin. In 1920, the [[Greater Berlin Act]] united dozens of suburban cities, villages, and estates around Berlin into a greatly expanded city at the expense of Brandenburg. After this expansion, Berlin had a population of around four million.
On [[Machtergreifung|January 30th, 1933]], [[Adolf Hitler]] and the [[National Socialist German Workers Party|Nazi Party]] came to power. Nazi rule destroyed Berlin's [[Jewish]] community, which had numbered 170,000 before 1933. After the [[Kristallnacht]] [[pogrom]] in 1938, thousands of the city's German Jews were imprisoned in the nearby [[Sachsenhausen concentration camp]] or, in early 1943, were shipped to death camps, such as [[Auschwitz concentration camp|Auschwitz]]. During the war, large parts of Berlin were destroyed in [[Battle of Berlin (air)|the 1943–45 air raids]] and during the [[Battle of Berlin]]. After the [[end of World War II in Europe|end of the war in Europe]] in 1945, Berlin received large numbers of refugees from the Eastern provinces. The victorious powers divided the city into four sectors, analogous to the [[Allied Occupation Zones in Germany|occupation zones]] into which Germany was divided. The sectors of the Western Allies (the [[United States]], the [[United Kingdom]], and [[France]]) formed [[West Berlin]], while the [[Soviet Union|Soviet sector]] formed [[East Berlin]].<ref>[http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/psf/box31/t297c01.html Agreement to divide Berlin], FDR-Library, Accessed [[October 20]], [[2006]]</ref>
[[Image:Berlinermauer.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Berlin Wall]] in 1986, painted on the western side. People crossing the so-called "death strip" on the eastern side were at risk of being shot.]]
All four allies retained shared responsibility for Berlin. However, the growing political differences between the Western Allies and the Soviet Union led the latter, which controlled the territory surrounding Berlin, to impose the [[Berlin Blockade]], an economic blockade of West Berlin. The allies successfully overcame the Blockade by airlifting food and other supplies into the city from [[24 June]] [[1948]] to [[11 May]] [[1949]].<ref>[http://www.western-allies-berlin.com/historic-events/detail/airlift-blockade Berlin Airlift / Blockade], Western Allies Berlin, Accessed [[October 20]], [[2006]]</ref> In 1949, the [[Federal Republic of Germany]] was founded in [[West Germany]] and consisted of the American, British and French zones, but excluded those 3 countries' zones of Berlin, while the [[Marxism-Leninism|Marxist-Leninist]] German Democratic Republic was proclaimed in [[East Germany]]. West Berlin remained a free city that was separate from the Federal Republic of Germany, and issued its own postage stamps. Airline service to West Berlin was granted only to American, British and French airlines. Lufthansa and other German airlines were prohibited from flying to West Berlin.
The founding of the two German states increased [[Cold War]] tensions. West Berlin was surrounded by East German territory. East Germany, however, proclaimed East Berlin (which it described only as "Berlin") as its capital, a move that was not recognized by the Western powers. Although half the size and population of West Berlin, it included most of the historic center of the city. The tensions between east and west culminated in the construction of the [[Berlin Wall]] between East and West Berlin and other barriers around West Berlin by East Germany on [[13 August]] [[1961]] and were exacerbated by a tank standoff at [[Checkpoint Charlie]] on [[27 October]] [[1961]]. West Berlin was now [[de facto]] a part of West Germany with a unique legal status, while East Berlin was de facto a part of East Germany.
[[Image:Thefalloftheberlinwall1989.JPG|thumb|right|The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.]]
Berlin was completely separated. It was possible for Westerners to pass from one to the other only through strictly controlled checkpoints. For most Easterners, travel to West Berlin or West Germany was no longer possible. In 1971, a [[Four Power Agreement on Berlin|Four-Power agreement]] guaranteed access across East Germany to West Berlin and ended the potential for harassment or closure of the routes.
In 1989, pressure from the East German population brought a transition to a market-based economy in East Germany, and its citizens gained free access across the Berlin Wall on [[9 November]] [[1989]], which was subsequently mostly demolished. Not much is left of it today; the [[East Side Gallery]] in [[Friedrichshain]] near the ''Oberbaumbrücke'' over the [[Spree]] preserves a portion of the Wall.
On [[3 October]] [[1990]] the two parts of Germany were [[German reunification|reunified]] as the Federal Republic of Germany, and Berlin became the German capital according to the unification treaty. In 1999, the [[Bundestag|German parliament]] and government began their work in Berlin.
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== Geography ==
[[Image:Berlin.svg|thumb|Natural and built environment.]]
Berlin is located in eastern Germany, about 70 kilometers (44 [[Mile|mi]]) west of the border with [[Poland]] in an area with marshy terrain. Berlin's landscape was shaped by [[ice sheet]]s during the last [[Ice Age]]. The city center lies along the river [[Spree]] in the Berlin-Warsaw ''Urstromtal'' (ancient river valley), formed by water flowing from melting ice sheets at the end of the last Ice Age. The ''Urstromtal'' lies between the low Barnim plateau to the north, and the Teltow [[plateau]] to the south. In [[Spandau]], Berlin's westernmost borough, the Spree meets the river [[Havel]], which flows from north to south through western Berlin. The course of the Havel is more like a chain of lakes, the largest being the Tegeler See and [[Wannsee|Großer Wannsee]]. A series of lakes also feeds into the upper Spree, which flows through the [[Müggelsee|Großer Müggelsee]] in eastern Berlin.<ref>[http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=52.5333,13.38000&spn=0.060339,0.085316&t=k&hl=en Satellite Image Berlin], Google Maps, Accessed [[October 20]], [[2006]]</ref>
[[Image:Über den Dächern von Berlin.jpg|thumb|left|View over [[Mitte|Central Berlin]].]]
Substantial parts of present-day Berlin extend onto the low plateaus on both sides of the Spree Valley. Large parts of the boroughs [[Reinickendorf]] and [[Pankow]] lie on the Barnim plateau, while most of the boroughs [[Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf]], [[Steglitz-Zehlendorf]], [[Tempelhof-Schöneberg]], and [[Neukölln]] lie on the Teltow plateau. The borough of Spandau lies partly within the Berlin ''Urstromtal'' and partly on the Nauen Plain, which stretches to the west of Berlin. The highest elevations in Berlin are the [[Teufelsberg]] in the borough of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf and the Müggelberge in the borough of [[Treptow-Köpenick]]. Both hills have an elevation of about 115 meters (377 ft). The Teufelsberg is in fact an artificial pile of rubble from the ruins of the [[Second World War]].
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===Climate===
[[Image:Potsdam view from above.jpg|thumb|The hinterland of Berlin is covered with woodlands and numerous lakes ([[Havel]] river).]]
Berlin has a [[temperate]]/mesothermal climate (Cfb) according to the [[Köppen climate classification]] system. The mean annual temperature for Berlin-Dahlem (a location within [[Steglitz-Zehlendorf]]) is 9.4 [[Celsius|°C]] (48.9 [[Fahrenheit|°F]]) and its mean annual [[precipitation]] totals 578 millimeters (22.8 [[Inch|in]]). The warmest months are June, July, and August, with mean temperatures of 16.7 to 17.9 °C (62.1 to 64.2 °F). The coldest are December, January, and February, with mean temperatures of −0.4 to 1.2 °C (31.3 to 34.2 °F).<ref name=worldweather>[http://www.worldweather.org/016/c00059.htm Climate figures], World Weather Information Service, Accessed [[October 20]], [[2006]]</ref> Berlin's built-up area creates a [[microclimate]], with heat stored by the city's buildings. Temperatures can be 4 °C (7.2 °F) higher in the city than in the surrounding areas.
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===Cityscape===
[[Image:Berlin Mitte by night.JPG|thumb|right|Berlin along the [[Spree]] river and the [[Fernsehturm|TV tower]] by night.]]
The city's appearance today is predominantly shaped by the key role it played in Germany's history in the 20th century. Each of the national governments based in Berlin —the 1871 [[German Empire]], the [[Weimar Republic]], [[Nazi Germany]], [[East Germany]], and now the reunified [[Germany]]— initiated ambitious construction programs, each with its own distinctive character. Berlin was devastated by bombing raids during the [[Second World War]] and many of the old buildings that escaped the bombs were eradicated in the 1950s and 1960s in both West and East. Much of this destruction was initiated by municipal architecture programs to build new residential or business quarters and main roads. Berlin's unique recent history has left the city with an eclectic array of architecture and sights.
In the eastern part, many ''[[Plattenbau]]ten'' can be found, reminders of [[Eastern Bloc]] ambitions to create complete residential areas with fixed ratios of shops, kindergartens and schools. Another difference between former east and west is in the design of little red and green men on pedestrian crossing lights ([[Ampelmännchen]] in German); the eastern versions received an opt-out during the standardization of road traffic signs after reunification. The eastern Ampelmännchen design is now used in the western part of the city as well.
===Architecture===
[[Image:Berlin - Haus des Lehrers & BCC.jpg|thumb|right|"Haus des Lehrers" and Congress Hall at [[Alexanderplatz]].]]
The [[Fernsehturm]] (TV tower) at [[Alexanderplatz]] in Mitte is the second highest building in the European Union at {{m to ft|368|precision=0}}. Built in 1969, it is visible throughout most of the central districts of Berlin. The city can be viewed from its 204 meter (669 ft) high observation floor. Starting here the [[Karl-Marx-Allee]] heads east, an avenue lined by monumental residential buildings, designed in the Socialist Classicism Style of the [[Stalin]] era. Adjacent to this area is the [[Rotes Rathaus]] (City Hall), with its distinctive red-brick architecture. The previously built-up part in front of it is the [[Neptunbrunnen (Berlin)|Neptunbrunnen]], a fountain featuring a mythological scene.
The [[East Side Gallery]] is an open-air exhibition of art painted directly on the last existing portions of the [[Berlin Wall]]. It is the largest remaining evidence of the city's historical division. It has recently undergone a restoration.
[[Image:Brandenburger Tor Blaue Stunde.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Brandenburg Gate]].]]
The [[Brandenburg Gate]] is an iconic landmark of Berlin and [[Germany]]. It also appears on German [[euro]] coins (10 Cent / 20 Cent and 50 Cent). The [[Reichstag (building)|Reichstag building]] is the traditional seat of the German [[Bundestag|Parliament]], renovated in the 1950s after severe Second World War damage. The building was again remodeled by British architect [[Norman Foster, Baron Foster of Thames Bank|Norman Foster]] in the 1990s and features a glass dome over the session area, which allows free public access to the parliamentary proceedings and magnificent views of the city.
[[Gendarmenmarkt]], a [[neoclassical architecture|neoclassical]] square in Berlin whose name dates back to the Napoleonic occupation of the city, is bordered by two similarly designed cathedrals, the [[Französischer Dom|French Cathedral]] with its observation platform and the German Cathedral. The Konzerthaus (Concert Hall), home of the Berlin Symphony Orchestra, stands between the two cathedrals.
[[Image:Potsdamerplatzberlin.JPG|thumb|right|[[Potsdamer Platz]] at dusk.]]
The [[Berliner Dom]], a Protestant cathedral and the third church on this site, is located on the [[Museum Island|Spree Island]] across from the site of the [[Berliner Stadtschloss]] and adjacent to the [[Lustgarten]]. A large crypt houses the remains of some of the earlier [[Prussia]]n royal family. Like many other buildings, it suffered extensive damage during the Second World War. The [[Cathedral of St. Hedwig]] is Berlin's [[Roman Catholicism|Roman Catholic]] cathedral.
[[Unter den Linden]] is a tree lined east-west avenue from the Brandenburg Gate to the site of the former [[Berliner Stadtschloss]], and was once Berlin's premier promenade. Many Classical buildings line the street and part of [[Humboldt University]] is located there.
[[Friedrichstraße]] was Berlin's legendary street during the [[Roaring Twenties]]. It combines twentieth century traditions with the modern architecture of today's Berlin.
[[Image:Reichtagskuppel Berlin aufdemdach 2004.jpg|thumb|left|The glass dome adorning the roof of the [[Reichstag (building)|Reichstag]].]]
[[Potsdamer Platz]] is an entire quarter built from scratch after 1995 and was not rebuilt as it was divided by the Wall.<ref>[http://www.stadtentwicklung.berlin.de/bauen/baubilanz/en/potsdamer_platz.html Construction and redevelopment since 1990], Senate Department of Urban Development, Accessed [[November 7]], [[2006]]</ref> To the west of Potsdamer Platz is the Kulturforum, which houses the [[Gemäldegalerie (Berlin)|Gemäldegalerie]], and is flanked by the [[Neue Nationalgalerie]] and the [[Berliner Philharmoniker|Philharmonic]]. The [[Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe]], a [[Holocaust]] memorial, is situated to the north.<ref>[http://travel2.nytimes.com/2005/05/09/arts/design/09holo.html?ex=1162962000&en=272335914d8b80d6&ei=5070 A Forest of Pillars, Recalling the Unimaginable], New York Times, Accessed [[November 7]], [[2006]]</ref>
The area around Hackescher Markt is home to the fashionable culture, with countless clothing outlets, clubs, bars, and galleries. This includes the Hackesche Höfe, a conglomeration of buildings around several courtyards, reconstructed around 1996. Oranienburger Straße and the nearby [[New Synagogue]] were the center of [[Jewish]] culture before 1933, and regains being it today.
The [[Straße des 17. Juni]], connecting the Brandenburg Gate and [[Ernst Reuter|Ernst-Reuter-Platz]], serves as central East-West-Axis. Its name commemorates the uprisings in [[East Berlin]] of [[17 June]] [[1953]]. Approximately half-way from the Brandenburg Gate is the Großer Stern, a circular traffic island on which the [[Siegessäule]] (Victory Column) is situated. This monument, built to commemorate Prussia's victories, was relocated 1938–39 from its previous position in front of the [[Reichstag (building)|Reichstag]]. The site is annually used as the center stage for the [[Love Parade]].
[[Image:Schloss Charlottenburg 2005 282.JPG|thumb|[[Schloss Charlottenburg]] is the largest existing palace in Berlin.]]
The [[Rathaus Schöneberg]], where [[John F. Kennedy]] made his famous "[[Ich bin ein Berliner]]!" speech, is situated in [[Tempelhof-Schöneberg]].
The [[Kurfürstendamm]] is home to some of Berlin's luxurious stores with the [[Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church]] at its eastern end on [[Breitscheidplatz]]. The church was destroyed in the Second World War and left in ruins. Near by on Tauentzienstraße is [[Kaufhaus des Westens|KaDeWe]], claimed to be continental Europe's largest department store.
West of the center, [[Schloss Bellevue]] is the residence of the German President. [[Schloss Charlottenburg]], which was burnt out in the Second World War and largely destroyed, has been rebuilt and is the largest surviving historical palace in Berlin.
[[Funkturm Berlin]] is a 150 meter (492 ft) tall lattice radio tower at the fair area, built between 1924 and 1926. It is the only observation tower, which stands on insulators, and has a restaurant {{m to ft|55|precision=0}} and an observation deck {{m to ft|126|precision=0}} above ground, which is reachable by an elevator.
As the Berliner Funkturm is an open lattice structure, its elevator has windows.
== Government ==
[[Image:Berlin reichstag CP.jpg|thumb|The [[Reichstag (building)|Reichstag]] is the site of the German parliament.]]
Berlin is the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany and is the seat of the [[President of Germany]], whose official residence is [[Schloss Bellevue]].<ref>[http://www.bundespraesident.de/en Bundespräsident Horst Köhler], www.bundespraesident.de, Accessed [[November 12]], [[2006]]</ref> Since German reunification on [[3 October]] [[1990]], it has been one of the three [[city state]]s, together with [[Hamburg]] and [[Bremen (state)|Bremen]], among the present sixteen [[states of Germany]]. The [[Bundesrat of Germany|Bundesrat]] ("federal council") is the representation of the Federal States (''Bundesländer'') of Germany and has its seat at the former Prussian [[Herrenhaus]] (House of Lords). Though most of the ministries are seated in Berlin, some of them, as well as some minor departments, are seated in [[Bonn]], the former capital of West Germany. The [[European Union]] invests in several projects within the city of Berlin. Infrastructure, education and social programs are co-financed with budgets taken from EU cohesion funds.<ref>[http://www.erasmuspc.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=303&Itemid=61 URBAN regeneration, an European Commission initiative], ErasmusPC, Accessed [[March 12]], [[2007]]</ref>
===City state===
[[Image:Klaus Wowereit 02.png|upright|thumb|left|Governing Mayor since 2001, [[Klaus Wowereit]].]]
The city and state [[parliament]] is the House of Representatives (''Abgeordnetenhaus''), which currently has 141 seats. Berlin's [[executive (government)|executive]] body is the [[Senate]] of Berlin (''Senat von Berlin''). The Senate of Berlin consists of the [[List of mayors of Berlin|Governing Mayor]] (''Regierender Bürgermeister'') and up to eight senators holding ministerial positions, one of them holding the official title "Mayor" (''Bürgermeister'') as deputy to the Governing Mayor. The [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democratic Party]] (SPD) and [[The Left (Germany)|The Left]] (Die Linke) took control of the city government after the [[Berlin state election, 2001|2001 state election]] and won another term in the [[Berlin state election, 2006|2006 state election]].<ref>[http://www.statistik-berlin.de/wahlen/ Berlin state election, 2006]/(German), Der Landeswahlleiter für Berlin, Accessed [[November 12]], [[2006]]</ref>
The Governing Mayor is simultaneously Lord Mayor of the city (''Oberbürgermeister der Stadt'') and Prime Minister of the Federal State (''Ministerpräsident des Bundeslandes''). The office of Berlin's Governing Mayor is in the [[Rotes Rathaus]] (Red City Hall). Since 2001 this office has been held by [[Klaus Wowereit]] of the SPD.<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/europe/html/050516/wowereit.html The Glamor Guy], Time Europe, Accessed [[October 20]], [[2006]] .</ref><ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/23/world/europe/23wowereit.html?ex=1161489600&en=2129daf9965bf613&ei=5070 Berlin Mayor, Symbol of Openness, Has National Appeal], New York Times, Accessed [[October 20]], [[2006]].</ref> The city's government is based on a coalition between the [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democratic Party]] and [[The Left (Germany)|The Left]].
The total annual state budget of Berlin in 2007 exceeded €20.5 ($28.7) billion including a budget surplus of €80 ($112) million. The figures indicate the first surplus in the history of the city state.<ref>[http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/0,1518,527721,00.html Berlin schafft erstes Etatplus seit dem Krieg](German), SpiegelOnline, Accessed February, 2008</ref> Due to increasing growth rates and tax revenues, the Senate of Berlin calculates an increasing budget surplus in 2008 and 2009. The total budget includes an estimated amount of €5.5 ($7.7) bn, which is directly financed by either the German government or the German Bundesländer.<ref>[http://www.rbb-online.de/_/nachrichten/politik/beitrag_jsp/key=news6036348.html Ab 2008 keine neuen Schulden mehr](German), rbb-online, Accessed [[June 21]], [[2007]].</ref> Mainly due to reunification-related expenditures, Berlin as a German state has accumulated more debt than any other city in Germany, with the most current estimate being €60 ($84)bn in December 2007.<ref>[http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,1983556,00.html Debt-Laden Berlin Goes to Court For Federal Aid], Deutsche Welle, Accessed [[October 20]], [[2006]].</ref>
===Boroughs===
[[Image:BerlinDistricts.svg|thumb|right|Map of Berlin's twelve boroughs and their localities.]]
Berlin is subdivided into [[Boroughs and localities of Berlin|twelve boroughs]] (''Bezirke''), but before [[Berlin's 2001 administrative reform]] there were 23. Each borough is subdivided into a number of localities (''Ortsteile''), which represent the traditional [[urbanization|urbanized]] areas that inhabitants identify with. Some of these have been rearranged several times over the years. At present the city of Berlin consists of 95 such localities. The localities often consist of a number of city neighborhoods (usually called ''[[Kiez]]'' in the Berlin dialect) representing small residential areas.
Each borough is governed by a Borough Council (''Bezirksamt'') consisting of five Councilors (''Bezirksstadträte'') and a Borough Mayor (''Bezirksbürgermeister''). The Borough Council is elected by the Borough Assembly (''Bezirksverordnetenversammlung''). The boroughs of Berlin are not independent municipalities. <!-- ([[urban district]], ''Stadtkreis'') --> The power of borough governments is limited and subordinate to the Senate of Berlin. The borough mayors form the Council of Mayors (''Rat der Bürgermeister''), led by the city's Governing Mayor, which advises the Senate.
The localities have no government bodies of their own, even though most of the localities have historic roots in older municipalities that predate the formation of Greater Berlin on [[1 October]] [[1920]]. The subsequent position of locality representative (''Ortsvorsteher'') was discontinued in favor of borough mayors.
===Sister cities===
Berlin maintains official partnerships with 17 cities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.berlin.de/rbmskzl/staedteverbindungen/index_en.html |title=Berlin's international city relations |publisher=Der Regierende Bürgermeister von Berlin, Referat IV B |accessdate=2007-11-09}}</ref> [[Town twinning]] between Berlin and other cities began with [[Los Angeles]] in 1967. East Berlin's partnerships were canceled at the time of German reunification and later partially reestablished. West Berlin's partnerships had previously been restricted to the borough level.<ref>[http://www.berlin.de/rbmskzl/staedteverbindungen/index_en.html Sister cities of Berlin], www.berlin.de, Accessed [[November 7]], [[2006]]</ref> During the [[Cold War]] era, the partnerships had reflected the different power blocs, with West Berlin partnering with capitals in the West, and East Berlin mostly partnering with cities from the [[Warsaw Pact]] and its allies.
There are several joint projects with many other cities, such as [[Copenhagen]], [[Helsinki]], [[Johannesburg]], [[Shanghai]], [[Seoul]], [[Sofia]], [[Sydney]], and [[Vienna]]. Berlin participates in international city associations such as the Union of the Capitals of the [[European Union]], Eurocities, Network of European Cities of Culture, Metropolis, Summit Conference of the World's Major Cities, Conference of the World's Capital Cities.
{| style="background:transparent;"
|valign="top"|
* 1967 {{flagicon|US}} '''[[Los Angeles]]''', [[United States]].
* 1987 {{flagicon|France}} '''[[Paris]]''', [[France]].
* 1988 {{flagicon|Spain}} '''[[Madrid]]''', [[Spain]].
* 1989 {{flagicon|Turkey}} '''[[Istanbul]]''', [[Turkey]].
* 1990 {{flagicon|Russia}} '''[[Moscow]]''', [[Russia]].
* 1991 {{flagicon|Poland}} '''[[Warsaw]]''', [[Poland]].
|valign="top"|
* 1991 {{flagicon|Hungary}}'''[[Budapest]]''', [[Hungary]].
* 1992 {{flagicon|Belgium}}'''[[Brussels]]''', [[Belgium]].
* 1993 {{flagicon|Indonesia}}'''[[Jakarta]]''', [[Indonesia]].
* 1993 {{flagicon|Uzbekistan}}'''[[Tashkent]]''', [[Uzbekistan]].
* 1993 {{flagicon|Mexico}}'''[[Mexico City]]''', [[Mexico]].
* 1994 {{flagicon|China}}'''[[Beijing]]''', [[People's Republic of China|China]].
|valign="top"|
* 1994 {{flagicon|Japan}}'''[[Tokyo]]''', [[Japan]].
* 1994 {{flagicon|Argentina}}'''[[Buenos Aires]]''', [[Argentina]].
* 1995 {{flagicon|Czech Republic}}'''[[Prague]]''', [[Czech Republic]].
* 2000 {{flagicon|Namibia}}'''[[Windhoek]]''', [[Namibia]].
* 2000 {{flagicon|UK}}'''[[London]]''', [[United Kingdom]].
|}
== Demographics ==
{{seealso|Berlin population statistics}}
[[Image:800px-PeopleMyfest.jpg|thumb|People in [[Kreuzberg]].]]
As of December 2007, the city state Berlin numbered 3,416,300 (12,000 increase compared to 2006) registered inhabitants in an area of 891.82 km² (344.31 sq mi).<ref name="statoffice">{{de icon}} [http://www.statistik-berlin.de Berlin statistical figures],
Statistisches Landesamt Berlin. Accessed [[October 20]], [[2006]].</ref> The population density amounts to 3,831 inhabitants per km² (9,921/sq mi). The [[urban area]] of Berlin stretches beyond the city limits and comprises about 3.7 million people while the metropolitan area of the Berlin-Brandenburg region is home to about 4.3 million in an area of {{km2 to sq mi|5370|precision=0}}. The [[Larger Urban Zones (LUZ) in the European Union|Larger Urban Zone]] comprised about 4.94 million people in an area of 17,405 km² in the year 2001.<ref>[http://www.urbanaudit.org/CityProfiles.aspx Urban Audit: City Profiles Berlin], www.urbanaudit.org, Accessed [[February 6]], [[2008]]</ref>
National and international migration into the city has a long history since the [[Edict of Potsdam]] in 1685. The Edict guaranteed religious freedom and a tax-free status to French Huguenots for ten years. The [[Greater Berlin Act]] in 1920 incorporated many suburbs and surrounding cities of Berlin. It formed most of the territory that comprises modern Berlin. The act increased the area of Berlin from 66 [[square kilometer]]s (25.5 [[square mile|sq mi]]) to 883 square kilometers (341 sq mi) and the population from 1.9 million to 4 million. Active immigration and asylum politics in West Berlin have initiated waves of immigrants in the 1960s and 1970s. In the 1990s the ''Aussiedlergesetze'' made immigration from the former [[Soviet Union]] possible. The current decade experiences an increasing influx from various Western countries. Especially young EU-Europeans are settling in the city.
[[Image:Berlin Einwohnerentwicklung 1880 2006.jpg|thumb|left|Berlin's population 1880-2007.]]
470,004 (14.0%) residents were of foreign nationality in December 2007, coming from 184 different countries.<ref>[http://www.statistik-berlin-brandenburg.de/pms/2008/08-04-08.pdf Foreign residents of Berlin](German), Amt für Statistik Berlin-Brandenburg, Accessed [[April 11]], [[2008]]</ref>
Another 394,000 (11,7%) citizens are descendants of international migrants and have either become naturalized German citizens or obtained citizenship by virtue of birth in Germany.<ref>[http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/;art270,2563533 Jeder vierte Berliner ist ausländischer Herkunft](German), Tagesspiegel, Accessed [[July 2]], [[2008]]</ref> The largest groups by foreign nationality are citizens from [[Turkey]] (113,779), [[Poland]] (44,400), [[Serbia]] (23,370), [[Russia]] (14,615), [[Italy]] (14,446), [[United States]] (13,761), [[France]] (12,611), [[Vietnam]] (12,165), [[Croatia]] (11,029), [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] (10,576), [[UK]] (9,797), [[Greece]] (9,749), [[Austria]] (8,813), [[Ukraine]] (8,709), [[Lebanon]] (7,691), [[Spain]] (6,637), the [[People's Republic of China]] (6,013), [[Bulgaria]] (6,621), [[Thailand]] (5,878).
The largest religious groupings are [[Irreligion|No religion]] 60%, Protestant (mostly belonging to the [[Evangelical Church in Germany]]) 23% (757,000), [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] 9% (312,000), [[Islam|Muslim]] 6% (213,000), [[Judaism|Jewish]] 0.4% (12,000).<ref name="factsheet">{{PDFlink|[http://www.berlin.de/imperia/md/content/rbm-skzl/fifawm/factsheetwmenglisch.pdf Berlin fact sheet]|99.1 KB}}, www.berlin.de, Accessed [[October 20]], [[2006]]</ref>
== Economy==
{{main|Economy of Berlin}}
[[Image:Iccberlin22.JPG|thumb|right|The economy of the city is mainly based on the service sector. The ICC and the [[Funkturm Berlin|Funkturm]] are part of the city's exhibition and congress center.]]
In 2007, the nominal [[gross domestic product|GDP]] of the citystate Berlin experienced a growth rate of 1.8% (2.5% in Germany) and totaled €81.7 ($114) billion.<ref>[http://www.statistik-berlin-brandenburg.de/pms/2008/08-02-06.pdf Gross domestic product Berlin], Statistik-Berlin-Brandenburg., Accessed [[February 6]], [[2007]]</ref> During the last decade Berlin has experienced significant changes towards a service orientated economy. After the reunification of Germany and Berlin in 1990, substantial subsidies were phased out, formerly received by the city of West Berlin. The industrial base of former East Berlin decreased significantly within a decade, leading to stagnant nominal GDP growth and high unemployment rates until 2005. Since then the unemployment rate steadily decreased and reached a 13 year-low with 13.6% in June 2008, but remains above the German (7.5%/June/2008) average.<ref>[http://www.faz.net/s/Rub050436A85B3A4C64819D7E1B05B60928/Doc~EA9D1E691730F4E499BDF8F4C0FEB4FE5~ATpl~Ecommon~Scontent.html Bundesagentur spart zwei Milliarden Euro](German), FAZ, Accessed [[July 1]], [[2008]]</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7023728.stm Eurozone jobless marks record low], BBC, Accessed [[October 2]], [[2007]]</ref>
Among the [[Forbes Global 2000]] and the 30 German [[DAX]] companies, only [[Siemens AG|Siemens]] and [[Deutsche Bahn]] control a headquarters in Berlin. Nevertheless, a multitude of German and international companies established secondary departments or service offices in the city. Among the 20 largest employers in Berlin are the railway company Deutsche Bahn AG, the hospital company Charité, the local public transport company BVG, the service provider Dussmann and the Piepenbrock Group. [[Daimler]] manufactures cars, and [[BMW]] builds [[BMW motorcycles|motorcycles]] in Berlin. BayerSchering Pharma and Berlin Chemie are major pharmaceutical companies headquartered in the city.
The Science and Business Park of Berlin-Adlershof is among the 15 largest technology parks world-wide. Research and development have established economic significance, and the Berlin Brandenburg region ranks among the top three innovative regions in the EU.<ref>[http://www.tagesspiegel.de/wirtschaft/archiv/20.11.2006/2909018.asp News analysis: innovation index November 2006 {{de icon}}]</ref><ref name="factsheet"/>
Fast-growing sectors are communications, life sciences, mobility and services with information and communication technologies, media and music, advertising and design, biotechnology and environmental services, transportation and medical engineering.<ref>[http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_id=7953479 Poor but sexy], The Economist, Accessed [[November 12]], [[2006]]</ref>
Berlin is among the top three congress cities in the world and is home to Europe's biggest convention center in the form of the Internationales Congress Centrum (ICC).<ref name=congress /> It contributes to the rapidly increasing tourism sector encompassing 592 hotels with 90,700 beds and numbered 17.3 million overnight stays and 7.5 million hotel guests in 2007. Berlin has established itself as the third most visited city destination in the European Union.<ref>[http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/Stadtleben-Tourismus;art125,2470131 Jedes Jahr ein neuer Rekord](German), Der Tagesspiegel, Accessed [[February 6]], [[2008]]</ref><ref>[http://www.rbb-online.de/_/nachrichten/wirtschaft/beitrag_jsp/key=news5305532.html Land Berlin stützt Tourismuswerbung](German), www.rbb-online.de, Accessed [[January 10]], [[2007]]</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
! style="background: #D8E2EF; color:#000080;" |2005 EUROSTAT<ref> [http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/PGP_PRD_CAT_PREREL/PGE_CAT_PREREL_YEAR_2008/PGE_CAT_PREREL_YEAR_2008_MONTH_02/1-12022008-EN-AP.PDF Regional GDP per inhabitant in the EU 27 (PDF)], Eurostat, Accessed [[February 12]], [[2008]]</ref>
!! style="background: #D8E2EF; color:#000080;" colspan="2" |Area
! style="background: #D8E2EF; color:#000080;" |Population
! style="background: #D8E2EF; color:#000080;" |GDP/Nominal in billion
! style="background: #D8E2EF; color:#000080;" |GDP/Nominal per capita
|-
| align=left |{{flag|Berlin}}
|{{convert|892|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on|disp=table}}
| align=right |3,400,000
| align=right |€ 79 / ~$111
| align=right |€ 23,292 / ~$32,609
|-
| align=left |{{flag|Brandenburg}}
|{{convert|29478|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on|disp=table}}
| align=right |2,550,000
| align=right |€ 48 / ~$67
| align=right |€ 18,781 / ~$26,294
|-
| align=left |{{flag|Germany}}
|{{convert|357050|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on|disp=table}}
| align=right |82,000,000
| align=right |€ 2,245 / ~$3,143
| align=right |€ 27,219 / ~$38,107
|-
| align=left |{{flag|European Union|name=EU27}}
|{{convert|4325675|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on|disp=table}}
| align=right |494,000,000
| align=right |€ 11,019 / ~$15,426
| align=right |€ 22,400 / ~$31,360
|}
===Media===
{{seealso|List of films featuring Berlin}}
[[Image:Cate blanchett.jpg|thumb|The [[Berlin Film Festival]] is annually held in February.]]
Berlin is the home of many television and radio stations; international, national as well as regional.<ref>[http://www.medienboard.de/WebObjects/Medienboard.woa/1/wa/CMSshow/1004207?wosid=hiEOPTbF9prwo7TP5bvOt0 Media Companies in Berlin and Potsdam], www.medienboard.de, Accessed [[November 7]], [[2006]]</ref> The public broadcaster [[Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg|RBB]] has its headquarters there as well as the commercial broadcasters [[MTV Europe]], [[Viva (TV station)|VIVA]], [[TVB]], [[FAB]], [[N24 (Germany)|N24]] and [[Sat.1]]. German international public broadcaster [[Deutsche Welle]] has its TV production unit in Berlin. Additionally, most national broadcasters have a studio in the city.
Berlin has Germany's largest number of daily newspapers, with numerous local [[broadsheet]]s ([[Berliner Zeitung]], [[Der Tagesspiegel]]), and three major [[tabloid]]s, as well as national dailies of varying sizes, each with a different political affiliation, such as [[Die Welt]], [[Junge Welt]], [[Neues Deutschland]], and [[Die Tageszeitung]]. In addition, several weekly papers publish here ([[Junge Freiheit]]), and Berlin has three alternative weeklies focusing on culture and entertainment. The [[Exberliner]], a monthly magazine, is Berlin's only [[English language|English-language]] periodical. Berlin is also the headquarters of two major German-language [[publishing house]]s: [[Walter de Gruyter]] and [[Axel Springer AG|Springer]], each of which publishes books, periodicals, and multimedia products.
Berlin is an important center in the European and [[Cinema of Germany|German film industry]]. It is home to more than one thousand film and television production companies, 270 movie theaters, and around 300 national and international co-productions are filmed in the region every year.<ref name="factsheet"/> The venerable [[Babelsberg Studios]] and the production company [[Universum Film AG|UFA]] are located outside Berlin in [[Potsdam]]. The city is also home of the [[European Film Academy]] and the German Film Academy, and hosts the annual [[Berlin Film Festival]].<ref>[http://www.europeanfilmacademy.org/ European Film Academy], www.europeanfilmacademy.org, Accessed [[December 19]], [[2006]]</ref><ref>[http://www.berlinale.de/ Berlin Film Festival], www.berlinale.de, Accessed [[November 12]], [[2006]]</ref>
== Education ==
{{seealso|Universities, colleges, and research institutions in Berlin|Education in Germany}}
[[Image:Humboldt monument.jpg|thumb|upright|Statue of [[Alexander von Humboldt]] outside the [[Humboldt University of Berlin|Humboldt University]].]]
The Berlin-Brandenburg capital region is one of the most prolific centers of higher education and research in the European Union. The city has four universities and numerous private, professional and technical colleges ([[Fachhochschule]]n), offering students a wide range of disciplines.<ref>[http://www.berlin-partner.de/622/?L=1 Metropolis of Sciences], Berlin Partner GmbH, Accessed [[November 7]], [[2006]]</ref> Around 130,000 students attend the universities and professional or technical colleges.<ref name="statoffice"/> The three largest universities account for around 100,000 students. These are the [[Freie Universität Berlin]] (Free University of Berlin) with around 35,000 students, the [[Humboldt Universität zu Berlin]] with 35,000 students, and the [[Technische Universität Berlin]] with 30,000 students. The [[Berlin University of the Arts|Universität der Künste]] has about 4,300 students.
The city has a high concentration of research institutions, such as the [[Fraunhofer Society]] and the [[Max Planck Society]], which are independent of, or only loosely connected to its universities. A total number of 62,000 scientists are working in [[research and development]].<ref name="factsheet"/>
In addition to the libraries affiliated with the various universities, the [[Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin]] is a major research library. It has two main locations: one near [[Potsdamer Platz]] on Potsdamer Straße and one on [[Unter den Linden]]. There are 108 public libraries to be found in the city.<ref name="factsheet"/>
[[Image:Canisius-kolleg.jpg|thumb|left|[[Canisius-Kolleg Berlin]].]]
Berlin has 878 schools teaching 340,658 children in 13,727 classes and 56,787 trainees in businesses and elsewhere.<ref name="factsheet"/> The city has a six-year primary education program. After completing primary school, students progress to one of the four types of secondary schools for six further years: [[Hauptschule]], [[Realschule]], [[Gymnasium (school)|Gymnasium]], or Gesamtschule. Berlin has a unique bilingual school program embedded in the "Europaschule". At these schools children get taught the curriculum in German and a foreign language, starting in grammar school and later in secondary school. Throughout nearly all boroughs, a range of 9 major European languages in 29 schools can be chosen.<ref>[http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/archiv/23.06.2006/2616093.asp Jahrgangsstufe Null](German), Der Tagesspiegel, Accessed [[October 20]], [[2006]]</ref>
The [[Französisches Gymnasium Berlin]] which was founded in 1689 for the benefit of [[Huguenot]] refugees, offers (German/[[French language|French]]) instruction.<ref>[http://www.fg-berlin.cidsnet.de/geschichte.htm Geschichte des Französischen Gymnasiums](German), Collège francais, Accessed [[November 18]], [[2006]]</ref> The [[John F. Kennedy School]], a bilingual German-[[United States|American]] public school located in [[Zehlendorf]], is particularly popular with children of Diplomats and the expat community. There are also four schools ("Humanistische Gymnasien") teaching [[Latin]] and [[Classical Greek]], which are traditionally renowned for highest academic standards. Two of them are state schools (Steglitzer Gymnasium in [[Steglitz]] and Goethe-Gymnasium in [[Wilmersdorf]]), one is Protestant (Evangelisches Gymnasium zum Grauen Kloster in [[Wilmersdorf]]) and one Jesuit ([[Canisius-Kolleg Berlin|Canisius-Kolleg]] in the "Embassy Quarter" in [[Tiergarten]]).
== Culture ==
{{seealso|1920s Berlin}}
[[Image:AlteNationalgalerie 1a.jpg|thumb|The [[Museum Island]] is a [[World Heritage Site]].]]
Berlin is noted for its numerous cultural institutions, many of which enjoy international reputation.<ref name=UNESCO /><ref name=UNESCO2>[http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/532 World Heritage Site Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin], UNESCO, Accessed [[November 6]], [[2006]]</ref> The diversity and vivacity of the ''Zeitgeist Metropolis'' led to an ever-changing and trendsetting image among major cities.<ref>[http://www.hubculture.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=152&Itemid=44 Hub Culture's 2008 Zeitgeist Ranking], www.hubculture.com, Accessed [[January 28]], [[2008]]</ref> The city has a very diverse art scene, and is home to around 420 art galleries.<ref>[http://kunst.zitty.de/14539/berliner-galerien.html Sprung in die Wolken](German), Zitty, Accessed [[June 30]], [[2008]]</ref> Young Germans and international artists continue to settle in the city,<ref>[http://www.observer.com/20060911/20060911_Nicholas_Boston_pageone_newsstory6-3.asp A New Williamsburg!Berlin’s Expats Go Bezirk], New York Observer, Accessed [[November 18]], [[2006]]</ref> and Berlin has established itself as a center of [[youth culture|youth]] and [[popular culture]] in Europe.<ref>[http://www.magazine-deutschland.de/magazin/J-Kunstszene_2-05.php Die Kunstszene](German), Deutschland Online, Accessed [[November 12]], [[2006]]</ref><ref>[http://www.metropolis2005.org/en/berlin/kultur.html CULTURE of Berlin], Metropolis 2005, Accessed [[November 7]], [[2006]]</ref>
Signs of this expanding role were the 2003 announcement that the annual Popkomm, Europe's largest [[music industry]] [[Convention (meeting)|convention]], would move to Berlin after 15 years in [[Cologne]].<ref>[http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2005/09/05/2003270493 Saucy Berlin transforms itself into a 'music city'], Taipei Times, Accessed [[November 12]], [[2006]]</ref> Shortly thereafter, the [[Universal Music Group]] and [[MTV]] also decided to move their European headquarters and main studios to the banks of the River [[Spree]] in [[Friedrichshain]].<ref>[http://www.expatica.com/actual/article.asp?subchannel_id=53&story_id=23446 Berlin's music business booms], Expatica.com, Accessed [[November 12]], [[2006]]</ref> Since 2005, Berlin has been listed as a [[UNESCO]] City of Design.<ref name=Cityofdesign />
===Nightlife, festivals===
[[Image:BerlinKarnevalderKulturen.JPG|thumb|upright|Karneval der Kulturen.]]
Berlin has one of the most diverse and vibrant nightlife scenes in Europe.<ref>[http://www.metrotimes.com/editorial/story.asp?id=6949 Losing your mind in Berlin], metrotimes, Accessed [[November 18]], [[2006]]</ref> After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, many buildings in [[Mitte]], the former city center of East Berlin, were renovated. Many had not been rebuilt since the Second World War. Illegally occupied by young people, they became a fertile ground for all sorts of [[underground culture|underground]] and [[counter-culture]] gatherings. It is also home to many nightclubs, including [[Kunst Haus Tacheles]], [[techno music|techno]] clubs [[Tresor]], WMF, Ufo, [[E-Werk]], the infamous [[Kitkatclub]] and [[Berghain]]. The Linientreu, near the [[Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church]], has been well known since the 1990s for [[techno music]]. The LaBelle discotheque in [[Friedenau]] became famous as the location of the [[1986 Berlin discotheque bombing]].<ref>[http://www.germany.info/relaunch/politics//new/pol_libya_labelle_2004.html Compensating Victims of the La Belle Attack], German Embassy, Washington D.C., Accessed [[November 18]], [[2006]]</ref>
[[Image:Nightclubbing.jpg|thumb|left|The city is a center for nightlife and DJ-culture in Europe.]]
SO36 in Kreuzberg originally focused largely on [[punk music]] but today has become a popular venue for dances and parties of all kinds. SOUND, located from 1971 to 1988 in Tiergarten and today in Charlottenburg, gained notoriety in the late 1970s for its popularity with [[heroin]] users and other [[drug addict]]s as described in [[Christiane F.]]'s book ''Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo''.<ref>[http://christianef.jarophoto.de/ Christiane F.-Page], christianef, Accessed [[November 18]], [[2006]]</ref>
The Karneval der Kulturen, a multi-ethnic street parade celebrated every [[Pentecost]] weekend, and the [[Christopher Street Day]], which is Central Europe's largest gay-lesbian pride event and is celebrated the last weekend of June, are openly supported by the city's government.<ref>[http://www.berlin-tourist-information.de/english/zielgruppen/e_zg_gay_bezirke.php Berlin for Gays and Lesbians], Berlin Tourismus Marketing GmbH, Accessed [[October 20]], [[2006]]</ref> Berlin is also well known for the [[Techno music|techno]] carnival [[Love Parade]] and the cultural festival [[Berliner Festspiele]], which include the jazz festival [[JazzFest Berlin]]. Several technology and media art festivals and conferences are held in the city, including [[Transmediale]] and [[Chaos Communication Congress]].
===Museums, galleries===
{{seealso|List of museums and galleries in Berlin}}
[[Image:Jewishmuseumberlin2007.jpg|thumb|upright|The [[Jewish Museum Berlin|Jewish Museum]].]]
Berlin is home to 153 museums.<ref name="factsheet"/> The ensemble on the [[Museum Island]] is a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]] and is situated in the northern part of the Spree Island between the Spree and the Kupfergraben.<ref name=UNESCO /> As early as 1841 it was designated a “district dedicated to art and antiquities” by a royal decree. Subsequently, the [[Altes Museum]] (Old Museum) in the Lustgarten displaying the bust of [[Nefertiti|Queen Nefertiti]],<ref>[http://www.expatica.com/actual/article.asp?subchannel_id=80&story_id=22752 A 3,000-year-old smile], Expatica.Com, Accessed [[November 1]], [[2006]]</ref> and the [[Neues Museum]] (New Museum), [[Alte Nationalgalerie]] (Old National Gallery), [[Pergamon Museum]], and [[Bode Museum]] were built there. While these buildings once housed distinct collections, the names of the buildings no longer necessarily correspond to the names of the collections they house.
Apart from the Museum Island, there is a wide variety of museums. The [[Gemäldegalerie, Berlin|Gemäldegalerie]] (Painting Gallery) focuses on the paintings of the "old masters" from the 13th to the 18th centuries, while the [[Neue Nationalgalerie]] (New National Gallery, built by [[Ludwig Mies van der Rohe]]) specializes in 20th century European painting. The [[Hamburger Bahnhof]], located in [[Moabit|Berlin-Moabit]], exhibits a major collection of modern and contemporary art. In spring 2006, the expanded [[Deutsches Historisches Museum]] re-opened in the Zeughaus with an overview of German history through the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. The [[Bauhaus-Archive|Bauhaus Archiv]] is an architecture museum.
[[Image:IshtarGateBerlin.jpg|thumb|left|The reconstructed [[Ishtar Gate]] of [[Babylon]] at the [[Pergamon Museum]].]]
The [[Jewish Museum Berlin|Jewish Museum]] has a standing exhibition on 2,000 years of German-Jewish history. The [[German Museum of Technology (Berlin)|German Museum of Technology]] in [[Kreuzberg]] has a large collection of historical technical artifacts. The [[Museum für Naturkunde]] (museum of [[natural history]]) near [[Berlin Hauptbahnhof]] has the largest mounted dinosaur in the world (a [[brachiosaurus]]), and the best preserved specimen of the early bird [[Archaeopteryx]].
In [[Dahlem (Berlin)|Dahlem]], there are several museums of world art and culture, such as the [[Museum of Indian Art]], the Museum of East Asian Art, the Ethnological Museum, the Museum of European Cultures, as well as the Allied Museum (a museum of the [[Cold War]]), the Brücke Museum (an art museum). In [[Lichtenberg]], on the grounds of the former East German Ministry for State Security ''([[Stasi]])'', is the Stasi Museum. The site of [[Checkpoint Charlie]], one of the renowned crossing points of the [[Berlin Wall]], is still preserved and also has a [[museum]]. The museum, which is a private venture, exhibits a comprehensive array of material about people who devised ingenious plans to flee the East. The [[Beate Uhse Erotic Museum]] near [[Berlin Zoologischer Garten|Zoo Station]] claims to be the world's largest [[erotic museum]].
{{-}}
===Performing arts===
{{seealso|Music in Berlin}}
[[Image:Philharmonie 1a.jpg|thumb|The [[Berliner Philharmonie]] is home to the renowned [[Berlin Philharmonic]].]]
Berlin is home to more than 50 theaters.<ref name="factsheet"/> The [[Deutsches Theater]] in Mitte was built in 1849–50 and has operated continuously since then, except for a one-year break (1944–45) due to the Second World War. The [[Volksbühne]] on Rosa Luxemburg Platz was built in 1913–14, though the company had been founded already in 1890. The [[Berliner Ensemble]], famous for performing the works of [[Bertolt Brecht]], was established in 1949, not far from the Deutsches Theater. The [[Schaubühne]] was founded in 1962 in a building in Kreuzberg, but moved in 1981 to the building of the former Universum Cinema on [[Kurfürstendamm]].
[[Image:German Cathedral and Concert Hall.JPG|thumb|left|German Cathedral and Concert Hall at [[Gendarmenmarkt]] square.]]
Berlin has three major [[opera house]]s: the [[Deutsche Oper Berlin|Deutsche Oper]], the [[Berlin State Opera]], and the [[Komische Oper Berlin|Komische Oper]]. The Berlin State Opera on [[Unter den Linden]] is the oldest; it opened in 1742. Its current musical director is [[Daniel Barenboim]]. The Komische Oper, which has traditionally specialized in [[operetta]]s, is located not far from the State Opera just off Unter den Linden. It originally opened in 1892 as a theater and has been operating under its current name since 1947. The Deutsche Oper opened in 1912 in Charlottenburg. During the division of the city from 1961 to 1989 it was the only major opera house in West Berlin.
There are seven [[symphony orchestra]]s in Berlin. The [[Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra]] is one of the preeminent orchestras in the world;<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/germany/article/0,2763,1205607,00.html Is Rattle's Berlin honeymoon over?], The Guardian, Accessed [[November 12]], [[2006]]</ref> it is housed in the [[Berliner Philharmonie]] near [[Potsdamer Platz]] on a street named for the orchestra's longest-serving conductor, [[Herbert von Karajan]].<ref>[http://travel2.nytimes.com/2005/09/25/travel/25berlin.html?ex=1162962000&en=36217d7f20459f88&ei=5070 Music: Berlin], New York Times, Accessed [[November 7]], [[2006]]</ref> The current principal conductor is [[Simon Rattle]], who took over in 2002 from Karajan's successor, [[Claudio Abbado]].<ref>[http://www.culturekiosque.com/klassik/news/rherattle.htm Berlin Philharmonic elects Sir Simon Rattle], Culturekiosque, Accessed [[November 12]], [[2006]]</ref> The [[Konzerthausorchester Berlin]] was founded in 1952 as the orchestra for East Berlin, since the Philharmonic was based in West Berlin. Its current principal conductor is [[Lothar Zagrosek]]. The [[Haus der Kulturen der Welt]] presents various exhibitions dealing with intercultural issues and stages world music and conferences.<ref>[http://www.hkw.de/en/bottom/impressum/impressum.php Haus der Kulturen der Welt], www.hkw.de, Accessed [[November 12]], [[2006]]</ref>
===Recreation===
[[Image:Glücklich.jpg|thumb|right|Cafés are part of the city's bohemian lifestyle.]]
[[Zoologischer Garten Berlin]], the older of two zoos in the city, was founded in 1844, and presents the most diverse range of species in the world.<ref>[http://www.rbb-online.de/_/nachrichten/vermischtes/beitrag_jsp/key=news4382800.html Hauptstadt-Zoo beliebtester Tierpark](German), RBB online, Accessed [[October 20]], [[2006]]</ref> It is the home of the captive-born [[polar bear]] [[Knut (polar bear)|Knut]], born in December 2006. He is currently the subject of international popularity and controversy. Tierpark Friedrichsfelde, founded in 1955 in the grounds of Schloss Friedrichsfelde in the Borough of [[Lichtenberg]], is Europe's largest zoo in terms of square meters.
[[Botanical Garden in Berlin|Berlin's Botanischer Garten]] includes the Botanic Museum Berlin. With an area of 43 [[hectare]]s (106 [[acre]]s) and around 22,000 different plant species it is one of the largest and most diverse gardens in the world.
[[Image:Tiergartenimoktober.JPG|thumb|left|The [[Tiergarten]] park in October.]]
The [[Tiergarten]] (Animal Garden) is Berlin's largest [[park]] located in [[Mitte]] and was designed by [[Peter Joseph Lenné]].<ref>[http://www.stadtentwicklung.berlin.de/aktuell/wettbewerbe/lenne/en/biographie.shtml Peter Joseph Lenné], Senate Department of Urban Development, Accessed [[November 18]], [[2006]]</ref> In [[Kreuzberg]] the [[Viktoriapark]] provides a good viewing point over the southern part of inner city Berlin. [[Treptower Park]] beside the Spree in [[Treptow]] has a [[Soviet War Memorial (Treptower Park)|monument]] honoring the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] soldiers killed in the 1945 [[Battle of Berlin]]. The Volkspark in [[Friedrichshain]], which opened in 1848, is the oldest park in the city. Its summit is man-made and covers a [[Second World War]] [[bunker]] and rubble from the ruins of the city; at its foot is Germany's main [[Memorial to Polish Soldiers and German Anti-Fascists|memorial]] to [[Poland|Polish]] soldiers.
Berlin is known for its numerous beach bars along the river Spree. Together with the countless cafés, restaurants and green spaces in all districts, they create an important source of recreation and leisure time.<ref>[http://travel.nytimes.com/2006/12/10/travel/10hours.html 36 Hours in Berlin], NYT, Accessed [[May 29]], [[2007]]</ref>
===Sports===
[[Image:Olympiastadionberlin2005.JPG|thumb|The [[Olympic Stadium (Berlin)|Olympiastadion]] was the venue for the [[1936 Summer Olympics]] and the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]] Final. The [[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|World Championships in Athletics]] will be held here in 2009.]]
Berlin has established a high profile reputation as a host city of international sporting events.<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/01/2204562.htm?section=sport Melbourne above Berlin, Sydney], ABCNews, Accessed [[July 1]], [[2008]]</ref>
Berlin hosted the [[1936 Summer Olympics|1936 Olympics]] and was the host city for the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]] Final.<ref>[http://www.olympic.org/uk/games/past/index_uk.asp?OLGT=1&OLGY=1936 BERLIN 1936 Games of the XI Olympiad], www.olympic.org, Accessed [[November 18]], [[2006]]</ref><ref>[http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/030521/4/ca.html 2006 FIFA World Cup Final in Berlin], Fifaworldcup Official Site, Accessed [[November 18]], [[2006]]</ref> The [[IAAF World Championships in Athletics]] will be held in the [[Olympic Stadium (Berlin)|Olympiastadion]] in 2009.<ref>[http://www.berlin2009.org/ 12. IAAF Leichtathletik WM berlin 2009], www.berlin2009.org, Accessed [[July 1]], [[2008]]</ref> The annual [[Berlin Marathon]] and the annual [[Golden League]] event [[ISTAF]] for athletics are also held here.<ref>[http://www.scc-events.com/index.en.php Berlin Marathon], www.scc-events.com, Accessed [[November 12]], [[2006]]</ref> The [[WTA Tour]] holds the [[Qatar Total German Open]] annually in the city. Founded in 1896, it is one of the oldest tennis tournaments for women. The [[FIVB]] World Tour has chosen an inner-city site near [[Alexanderplatz]] to present a [[beach volleyball]] Grand Slam every year.
Open Air gatherings of several hundred thousands spectators have become popular during international football competitions like the World Cup or the [[UEFA European Football Championship]]. Fans of the respective national football squads are coming together to watch the match on huge videoscreens. The event is known as the ''Fan Mile'' and takes place at the Brandenburg Gate every two years.<ref>[http://english.sabah.com.tr/B984DF3032754A828EA6DD8C80B16A8A.html 500,000 spectators to watch the game together], SABAH Newspaper, Accessed [[July 1]], [[2008]]</ref>
Several major clubs representing the most popular spectator sports in Germany have their base in Berlin.
{| class="wikitable"
! style="background: #D8E2EF; color:#000080;" |Club
! style="background: #D8E2EF; color:#000080;" |Sport
! style="background: #D8E2EF; color:#000080;" |Founded
! style="background: #D8E2EF; color:#000080;" |League
! style="background: #D8E2EF; color:#000080;" |Venue
! style="background: #D8E2EF; color:#000080;" |Head Coach
|-
|[[Hertha BSC Berlin]] <ref>[http://www.herthabsc.de/ Hertha BSC Berlin], www.herthabsc.de/, Accessed [[July 1]], [[2008]]</ref>
|[[Association football|Football]]
|1892
|[[Bundesliga (football)|Bundesliga]]
|[[Olympic Stadium, Berlin|Olympiastadion]]
|[[Lucien Favre]]
|-
|[[ALBA Berlin]] <ref>[http://www.albaberlin.de/ ALBA Berlin], www.albaberlin.de, Accessed [[July 1]], [[2008]]</ref>
|[[Basketball]]
|1991
|[[Bundesliga (basketball)|BBL]]
|[[O2 World]]
| Luka Pavicevic
|-
|[[Eisbären Berlin]] <ref> [http://www.eisbaeren.de/content/index.php Eisbären Berlin], www.eisbaeren.de, Accessed [[July 1]], [[2008]]</ref>
|[[Ice hockey]]
|1954
|[[Deutsche Eishockey-Liga|DEL]]
|[[O2 World]]
| Don Jackson
|-
|[[Füchse Berlin]] <ref> [http://www.fuechse-berlin.de/2007/o.red.c/home-start.php Füchse Berlin], www.fuechse-berlin.de, Accessed [[July 1]], [[2008]]</ref>
|[[Team handball|Handball]]
|1891
|[[Bundesliga (handball)|Bundesliga]]
|[[Max-Schmeling-Halle]]
| Jörn Uwe Lommel
|-
|[[SC Charlottenburg Berlin|SCC Berlin]] <ref> [http://www.scc-berlin.de/abteilungen.html SCC Berlin], www.scc-berlin.de, Accessed [[July 1]], [[2008]]</ref>
|[[Volleyball]]
|1911
| DVB
| Sporthalle Charlottenburg
| Michael Warm
|}
== Transportation ==
[[Image:BlnHauptbahnhof28.jpg|thumb|[[Berlin Hauptbahnhof|Berlin's Central Railway Station]] is the largest two-level crossing station in Europe. It began full operation in 2006.]]
Berlin has developed a highly complex transportation infrastructure providing very diverse modes of urban mobility.<ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/05/01/news/mayor5.php Broke but dynamic, Berlin seeks new identity], IHT, Accessed [[July 2]], [[2008]]</ref> The political reunification of East and West Berlin has led to the reintegration of Berlin's transportation with the infrastructures of the surrounding region.
Crossing 979 bridges, {{km to mi|5334|precision=0}} of roads run through Berlin, of which {{km to mi|73|precision=0}} are motorways.<ref name="factsheet"/> In 2006, 1.416 million motor vehicles, were registered in the city. With 416 vehicles per 1000 inhabitants (587/1000 in Germany), Berlin as a German state and as a major European city has one of the lowest numbers of cars per capita.<ref>[http://www.destatis.de/jetspeed/portal/cms/Sites/destatis/Internet/DE/Content/Statistiken/Verkehr/VerkehrsmittelbestandInfrastruktur/Tabellen/Content75/Fahrzeugbestand,templateId=renderPrint.psml Kraftfahrzeuge und Schienenbestand](German), Destatis, Accessed [[July 10]], [[2008]]</ref> Long-distance rail lines connect Berlin with all of the major cities of Germany and with many cities in neighboring European countries. Regional rail lines provide access to the surrounding region of Brandenburg and eastern Germany.
Berlin is known for its highly developed bike lane system. Around 400,000 daily riders accounting for 12% of total traffic in 2007. The Senate of Berlin aims to increase the number to 15% of city traffic by the year 2010. Riders have access to 620 km of bike paths, 80 km of bike lanes in the streets, 70 km of bus lanes which are also open to bicyclists, 100 km of combined pedestrian/bike paths and 50 km of marked bike lanes on the sidewalks. Riders are allowed to carry their bicycles in S-Bahn, U-Bahn and Trams.<ref>[http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/07/bike_city_berli.php Bike City Berlin], treehugger.com, Accessed [[July 1]], [[2008]]</ref>
===Public transport===
{{seealso|List of Berlin U-Bahn and S-Bahn stations|Motorways, canals, ports in Berlin|Berlin airports}}
[[Image:Ubahn oberbaum.gif|upright|thumb|The [[Berlin U-Bahn|U-Bahn]].]]
Public transport within Berlin is provided by the <!--This would probably look better in a table of some sort-->[[Berlin S-Bahn|S-Bahn]] (166 stations/ 331.5 km net length/ 375.8 million passengers in 2006), by the [[Berlin U-Bahn|U-Bahn]] (170 stations/ 144.2 km/ 456.8 million passengers), [[Berlin Straßenbahn|Straßenbahn]] (398 stations/ 191,6 km/ 171.3 million passengers), [[Bus]] (147 lines/ 1,626 km / 407.1 million passengers), and [[Ferry|ferries]] (6 lines)—operated by the [[Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe]], or BVG.<ref name="statoffice"/> The S-Bahn is a mostly overground urban railway system. The U-Bahn is the city's mainly underground rail system. The Straßenbahn or tram (trolley) system operates almost exclusively in the eastern part of the city. Buses provide extensive service linking outlying districts with the city center and to the U-Bahn and S-Bahn. Almost all means of public transport (U- & S- Bahn, trams, buses and most ferries) can be accessed with the same ticket.
[[Image:S-Bahn Berlin.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Berlin S-Bahn|S-Bahn]].]]
The inner city is crossed from west to east by the elevated main line (''[[Berlin Stadtbahn|Stadtbahn]]''), which carries S-Bahn trains as well as regional and long-distance trains. This main line passes through most of the city's long-distance and regional train stations, including [[Berlin-Charlottenburg]], [[Berlin Zoologischer Garten]], [[Berlin Hauptbahnhof]], [[Friedrichstraße]], [[Alexanderplatz]], and [[Berlin Ostbahnhof]].<ref>[http://www.s-bahn-berlin.de/englisch/sehenswuerdig/index.htm Map S-Bahn Stadtbahn], www.s-bahn-berlin.de, Accessed [[November 12]], [[2006]]</ref>
The second component of Berlin's rail network is the S-Bahn ring (''Ringbahn'') that forms a circle around the inner city and crosses the main line at Westkreuz (“west crossing”) and [[Ostkreuz]] (“east crossing”). A number of regional and regional express lines connect Berlin with the surrounding regions. The last one is the S-Bahn connection from South to North stopping at Südkreuz and Gesundbrunnen, two of the largest train stations in Berlin. The city is also served by the freight rail yard at Seddin, south of Potsdam.<ref>[http://www.fahrinfo-berlin.de/fahrinfo/bin/query.bin/en?L=bvg&ld=bvg4&L=bvg&seqnr=1|BVG Route planner], BVG (Berlin Transport Authority), Accessed [[October 20]], [[2006]]</ref>
===Airports===
[[Image:EDDT Empfang & Tower.jpg|thumb|[[Tegel International Airport]].]]
Berlin has three commercial airports. [[Tegel International Airport]] (TXL) the largest, [[Tempelhof International Airport]] (THF) and [[Schönefeld International Airport]] (SXF) handled around 20,5 million passengers in 2007. Together they served 144 destinations (01/2008) - 124 of them in Europe.<ref>{{PDFlink|[http://www.denmark.dk/NR/rdonlyres/60B9101D-B656-438E-A755-E441D41E0AA7/0/top_20_cities.pdf Are you resident in the world´s top liveable city ?]|355 KB}}, Monocle magazine, Accessed [[July 1]], [[2008]]</ref> Schönefeld handles mainly low-cost-aviation and is situated just outside Berlin's south-eastern border in the state of Brandenburg. The other two airports lie within the city limits.
Tegel is situated in north-western Berlin and is currently the main international airport of the city handling around 15 million passengers per year. Tempelhof handles short distance and commuter flights and will ultimately be closed in October 2008.
Berlin's airport authority aims to transfer all of Berlin's air traffic in November 2011 to a greatly expanded airport at Schönefeld, to be renamed [[Berlin Brandenburg International Airport]]. <ref>[http://www.berlin-airport.de/bbi/rubEnglish/index.html Airport Berlin Brandenburg International], Airports Berlin, Accessed [[October 20]], [[2006]]</ref> City authorities aim to establish a European aviation hub with a gateway function to Asia. The initial blueprint of the new airport is designed to handle a passenger capacity of 25 - 40 million per year and integrates a rail station providing urban, regional and national connections. The city center will be linked with an express rail shuttle to Schönefeld. The estimated shuttle time will be less than 20 minutes.
== Infrastructure ==
===Utilities===
[[Image:Berlin HKW Mitte.jpg|thumb|upright|Heizkraftwerk [[Mitte]].]]
Berlin's power supply is mainly provided by the Swedish firm [[Vattenfall]] and relies more heavily than other electricity producers in Germany on [[lignite]] as an energy source. Because burning lignite produces harmful emissions, Vattenfall has announced a commitment to shift towards reliance on cleaner, [[renewable energy]] sources.<ref>[http://www.taz.de/pt/2006/05/30/a0166.1/text Abgase tiefer gelegt] (German), taz, Accessed [[November 6]], [[2006]]</ref> During the division of Berlin, the power grid of West Berlin was cut off from the power grid of the surrounding areas in [[East Germany]]. West Berlin's [[electricity]] supply was provided by thermal [[power station]]s. To facilitate buffering during load peaks, accumulators were installed during the 1980s at some of these power stations. These were connected by static inverters to the power grid and were loaded during times of low [[power consumption]] and unloaded during times of high consumption. In 1993 the power connections to the surrounding areas, which had been capped in 1951, were restored. In the western districts of Berlin, nearly all power lines are underground cables; only a 380 kV and a 110 kV line, which run from Reuter substation to the urban [[Autobahn]], use overhead lines. The [[Berlin 380 kV electric line]] was constructed when West Berlin's electrical system was a totally independent system and not connected to those of East or West Germany. This has now become the backbone of the whole city's power system.
===Health system===
[[Image:Charité (Berlin).jpg|thumb|The [[Charité]] main building.]]
Berlin has a long tradition as a city of medicine and medical technology.<ref>{{de icon}} [http://www.tagesspiegel.de/magazin/wissen/uni/Elitewettbewerb-Universitaeten;art296,2400973 Berlin leuchtet], www.tagesspiegel.de. Accessed [[October 17]], [[2007]].</ref> The Berlin Charité Hospital is the largest [[university hospital]] in Europe. It is a joint institution of the [[Free University of Berlin]] and the [[Humboldt University of Berlin]], including a wide range of institutes and medical competence centers. Among them are the German Heart Center, one of the most renowned transplantation centers, the Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine and the Max-Planck-Institute for Molecular Genetics. Scientific research is complemented by many industry research departments of companies such as Siemens, Schering or debis. The history of medicine has been widely influenced by scientists from Berlin: [[Rudolf Virchow]], the founder of cellular pathology, [[Ferdinand Sauerbruch]], most famous surgeon of the first half of the 20th century or [[Robert Koch]], discoverer of the [[anthrax]] [[bacillus]], the [[tuberculosis]] bacillus and the [[cholera]] bacillus.
== Berlin quotations ==
{{seealso|List of quotes featuring Berlin}}
[[Image:Marlene Dietrich in Stage Fright trailer.jpg|thumb|right|[[Marlene Dietrich]] was born in Berlin-[[Schöneberg]].]]
* ''"Berlin ist arm, aber sexy." ("Berlin is poor, but sexy.")''<br> <small>([[Klaus Wowereit]], Governing Mayor, in a press interview, 2003)<ref>[http://focus.msn.de/politik/deutschland/wowereits-berlin-slogan_nid_37712.html „Arm, aber sexy“](German), Focus Online, Accessed [[November 2]], [[2006]]</ref></small>
* ''"Berlin wird leben und die Mauer wird fallen." ("Berlin will live and the wall will come down.")''<br/><small>([[Willy Brandt]], Former Governing Mayor of West Berlin and chancellor of Germany, [[November 10]], [[1989]])<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/wall/article/0,,196789,00.html Kohl: We are one nation], Guardian Unlimited, Accessed [[June 2]], [[2007]]</ref></small>
* ''“The greatest cultural extravaganza that one could imagine..”''<br><small>([[David Bowie]], singer, on 1970s Berlin)<ref>[http://www.expatica.com/actual/article.asp?subchannel_id=53&story_id=31468 David Bowie's golden years in Berlin], Expatica, Accessed [[June 2]], [[2007]]</ref></small>
* ''"[[Ich bin ein Berliner]]." ("I am a citizen of Berlin")''<br> <small>([[John F. Kennedy]], President of the [[United States]], 1963 while visiting Berlin)<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cold.war/episodes/09/reflections/ Teaching JFK German] CNN Interactive, Accessed [[November 2]], [[2006]]</ref></small>
* ''"Ich hab noch einen Koffer in Berlin" ("I still have a suitcase in Berlin")''<br><small>([[Marlene Dietrich]], song by the actress and singer born in Berlin-[[Schöneberg]], 1951)<ref>[http://www.newcolonist.com/cs-berlin.html Citysongs], The New Colonist, Accessed [[November 2]], [[2006]]</ref></small>
* ''"“Berlin ist eine Stadt, verdammt dazu, ewig zu werden, niemals zu sein” ("Berlin is a city condemned forever to becoming and never being.")''<br><small>(Karl Scheffler, author of ''Berlin: Ein Stadtschicksal, 1910'')<ref>Scheffler,Karl . ''Berlin: Ein Stadtschicksal'', 222 S. ISBN 3-927574-02-3</ref></small>
== References ==
{{reflist|2}}
== Bibliography ==
<div class="references-small">
* Gross, Leonard, ''The Last Jews in Berlin''. Carroll & Graf Publishers, 1999. ISBN 0-7867-0687-2
* Tertius Chandler, ''Four Thousand Years of Urban Growth: An Historical Census''. Edwin Mellen Pr, 1987. ISBN 0-88946-207-0
* Ribbe, Wolfgang, ''Geschichte Berlins''. Bwv - Berliner Wissenschafts-Verlag, 2002. ISBN 3-8305-0166-8
* Gwertzman, M. Kaufman, ''The Collapse of Communism'', 1990.
* Read, Anthony, and David Fisher, ''Berlin Rising: Biography of a City''. New York: W.W. Norton, 1994. ISBN 0-393-03606-5
* Large, David Clay, ''Berlin''. New York: Basic Books, 2001. ISBN 0-465-02632-X
* Gill, Anton: ''A Dance Between Flames: Berlin Between The Wars'', 1993. John Murray, 304 pages. ISBN 0-7195-4986 8
* Taylor, Frederick: ''The Berlin Wall: [[13 August]] [[1961]] - [[9 November]] [[1989]]'', 2007. Bloomsbury, 752 pages.
</div>
==External links==
{{sisterlinks|Berlin}}
<div class="references-small">
*[http://www.berlin.de/english/index.html Official Website Berlin.de]
*[http://www.berlin-tourist-information.com/index.en.php Official Tourist Information of Berlin]
*[http://www.alt-berlin.info/ Maps of Berlin, from 1738 to the present]
*[http://www.discusmedia.com/catalog.php?catID=5.2.2&profile=map Historical maps of Berlin at about 1900]
*[http://www.exberliner.com EXBERLINER – Magazine for English speakers]
*[http://germany.archiseek.com/brandenburg/berlin/index.html Architecture of Berlin]
*[http://www.panorama-cities.net/berlin/berlin.html City Panoramas]
*[http://www.berlinmitte.info/ 90 Images of Berlin in the 20th century] (German)
*[http://www.art-and-you.com/article_147_berlin-ist-arm-aber-sexy_2.html Berlin's artistic and cultural landscape] (French)
*[http://www.ostberlin.de/en/ East Berlin, Past and Present]
*[http://www.3d-stadtmodell-berlin.de/3d/en/seite0.jsp 3D-Virtual City Model of Berlin]
*[http://www.berlin.ucla.edu/ Interactive Berlin Map and selected locations]
*{{Wikitravel}}
</div>
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