Northern Germany
Northern Germany (German: Norddeutschland) is region in the north of Germany. The exact area defined by the term is not constant and varies from linguistic to geographic and to historic approach.
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[edit] Language
Northern Germany generally refers to the Sprachraum area north of the Uerdingen and Benrath line isoglosses, where Low German dialects are spoken. These comprise the Low Saxon dialects in the west (including the Westphalian language area up to the Rhineland) as well as the East Low German region along the Baltic coast with Western Pomerania, the Altmark and northern Brandenburg.
Though from the 19th century onwards the use of Standard German was strongly promoted especially by the Prussian administartion, Low German languages are still present in rural areas, with an estimated number of five to eight million active speakers. However, since World War II and the immigration of expellees from the former eastern territories of Germany, the prevalence has continously diminuished. Besides which, Frisian is spoken in East and North Frisia, as well as Danish (South Jutlandic) in parts of Schleswig. In view of linguistic and cultural ties, Northern Germany is affiliated with Scandinavia and Great Britain.
[edit] Geography
The key terrain feature of North Germany is the North German Plain including the marshes along the coastline of the North and Baltic Sea, as well as the geest and heaths inland. Also prominent are the low hills of the Baltic Uplands, the ground moraines, end moraines, sandur, glacial valleys, bogs, and Luch.
These features were formed during the Weichselian glaciation and contrast scenically with the adjacent Central Uplands of Germany in the south such as the Harz and Teutoburg Forest, which are occasionally included as part of Northern Germany. Likewise the Altmark in Saxony-Anhalt, the Prignitz and Uckermark areas of northern Brandenburg, as well as whole Westphalia are usually considered to be part of the North German region.
[edit] History
In the Early Middle Ages, Northern Germany was the settlement area of the Saxon tribes, which were subjugated by the Frankish ruler Charlemagne in the Saxon Wars from 772 onwards, whereafter the Imperial Duchy of Saxony was established in 804. In the 10th century the Saxon lands, enlarged by the Saxon Eastern March, became the cradle of the Kingdom of Germany and the Holy Roman Empire, when the dukes of the Ottonian dynasty were elected King of the Romans and crowned Holy Roman Emperors.
From 1500 onwards, the former Saxon territories (except for Westphalia) were incorporated into the Lower Saxon Circle of the Holy Roman Empire. The Hanseatic League is also part of the common history and culture of the cities in northern Germany with the Hamburg Metropolitan Region as the modern centre.
[edit] Northern German States
The term Northern German States is often used to refer to the following Federal States of Germany:
In some cases it also includes the non-coastal states of
Northern Germany as a region or as a historical landscape includes additional federal states (see geography above).
