Berlin is the capital and the largest city of Germany as well as one of its 16 constituent states. With a population of approximately 3.7 million, Berlin is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union. Located in northeastern Germany on the banks of the rivers Spree and Havel, it is the centre of the Berlin-Brandenburg Metropolitan Region, which has roughly 6 million residents from more than 180 nations. Due to its location in the European Plain, Berlin is influenced by a temperate seasonal climate. Around one-third of the city's area is composed of forests, parks, gardens, rivers, canals and lakes.
Berlin is a city of culture, politics, media and science. Its economy is based on high-techfirms and the service sector, encompassing a diverse range of creative industries, research facilities, media corporations and convention venues. Berlin serves as a continental hub for air and rail traffic and has a highly complex public transportation network. The metropolis is a popular tourist destination. Significant industries also include IT, pharmaceuticals, biomedical engineering, clean tech, biotechnology, construction and electronics.
Modern Berlin is home to world renowned universities, orchestras, museums, entertainment venues and is host to many sporting events. Its urban setting has made it a sought-after location for international film productions.The city is well known for its festivals, diverse architecture, nightlife, contemporary arts and a high quality of living. Since the 2000s Berlin has seen the emergence of a cosmopolitan entrepreneurial scene.
After the Second World War, Berlin was segmented by four victorious nations respectively, which were the former Soviet Union (East Berlin), the United States (Southwest Berlin), Britain (Western Berlin) and France (Northwest Berlin). East Berlin became the capital of the East Germany, and West Berlin in fact became an enclave in East Germany, surrounded by the Berlin Wall. Berlin regained the position of the German capital city after the two parts reunified in 1990.
In 1991, the German parliament voted to move the capital from Bonn to Berlin before 2000. Since then, Berlin launched its large-scale reconstruction project. A new congress and the prime minister's office were built in the north side of the Capitol. The once mined Potsdamer Platzthe at the alert zone under the Berlin Wall became the commercial center of Berlin again. Berlin restored its position as cultural and economic center in Europe.
