Jump to content

Geography of Berlin

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by GreenC bot (talk | contribs) at 18:21, 14 November 2016 (1 archive template merged to {{webarchive}} (WAM)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Berlin Skyline with Berliner Fernsehturm left and skyscrapers of Potsdamer Platz to the right
Location of Berlin in the European Union and Germany

Berlin is the capital city of Germany and one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.4 million people, Berlin is the second most populous city proper, the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union, and the largest German city.[1]

Located in northeastern Germany on the River Spree, it is the center of the Berlin-Brandenburg Metropolitan Region, which has about 4.5 million residents from over 180 nations.[2][3][4][5]

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 and lakes.[6]Berlin is surrounded by the state of Brandenburg. Also it is close to the Polish border; a drive from the city to the Polish border by car would be a 1.5 to 2 hour drive.

Topography

Treptowers and Berliner Fernsehturm at the river Spree

Berlin is located in northeastern Germany in an area of low-lying marshy woodlands with a mainly flat topography. It is part of the vast Northern European Plain that stretches from northern France to western Russia. The Berlin–Warsaw Urstromtal (ice age glacial valley), between the low Barnim Plateau to the north and the Teltow Plateau to the south, was formed by meltwater flowing from ice sheets at the end of the last Weichselian glaciation. The Spree follows this valley now. In Spandau, Berlin's westernmost borough, the Spree empties into 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 Großer Wannsee. A series of lakes also feeds into the upper Spree, which flows through the Großer Müggelsee in eastern Berlin.[7]

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 Glacial Valley and partly on the Nauen Plain, which stretches to the west of Berlin. The highest elevations in Berlin are the Teufelsberg and the Müggelberge in the city's outskirts, and the Kreuzberg is the highest elevation in the centre. While the latter measures 66 m (217 ft) above sea level, the former are both about 115 m (377 ft) above sea level. The Teufelsberg is actually an artificial hill composed of a pile of rubble from the ruins of World War II.[8]

Boroughs

The current 12 Berlin boroughs, as listed below.[9]

Borough Population
31 March 2010 		Area
in km² 		Density
per km² 		Map
Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf 319,628 64.72 4,878 The 12 Bezirke of Berlin
Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg 268,225 20.16 13,187
Lichtenberg 259,881 52.29 4,952
Marzahn-Hellersdorf 248,264 61.74 4,046
Mitte 332,919 39.47 8,272
Neukölln 310,283 44.93 6,804
Pankow 366,441 103.01 3,476
Reinickendorf 240,454 89.46 2,712
Spandau 223,962 91.91 2,441
Steglitz-Zehlendorf 293,989 102.50 2,818
Tempelhof-Schöneberg 335,060 53.09 6,256
Treptow-Köpenick 241,335 168.42 1,406

Climate

Berlin
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
42
 
 
3
−2
 
 
33
 
 
4
−2
 
 
41
 
 
9
1
 
 
37
 
 
13
4
 
 
54
 
 
19
9
 
 
69
 
 
22
12
 
 
56
 
 
24
14
 
 
58
 
 
24
14
 
 
45
 
 
19
11
 
 
37
 
 
13
6
 
 
44
 
 
7
2
 
 
55
 
 
4
0
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm
Source: DWD, Data: 1971–2000
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
1.7
 
 
37
29
 
 
1.3
 
 
40
29
 
 
1.6
 
 
47
34
 
 
1.5
 
 
56
40
 
 
2.1
 
 
66
48
 
 
2.7
 
 
71
54
 
 
2.2
 
 
75
58
 
 
2.3
 
 
74
57
 
 
1.8
 
 
66
51
 
 
1.5
 
 
56
44
 
 
1.7
 
 
45
36
 
 
2.2
 
 
40
31
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches
The outskirts of Berlin are covered with woodlands and numerous lakes.

Berlin's climate is "humid continental", according to the Köppen climate classification system.

Summers are warm and sometimes humid, with average high temperatures of 22–25 °C (72–77 °F) and lows of 12–14 °C (54–57 °F). Winters are relatively cold, with average high temperatures of 3 °C (37 °F) and lows of −2 to 0 °C (28 to 32 °F). Spring and autumn are generally chilly to mild. Berlin's built-up area creates a microclimate, with heat stored by the city's buildings. Temperatures can be 4 °C (7 °F) higher in the city than in the surrounding areas.[10]

Annual precipitation is 570 millimeters (22 in), with moderate rainfall throughout the year. Light snowfall mainly occurs from December through to March, but snow cover does not usually remain for long. The recent winter of 2009/2010 was an exception, as there was a permanent snow cover from late December until early March.[11]

Climate data for Berlin
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 15.2
(59.4) 		18.6
(65.5) 		25.1
(77.2) 		30.9
(87.6) 		33.3
(91.9) 		36.1
(97.0) 		37.8
(100.0) 		37.7
(99.9) 		34.2
(93.6) 		27.5
(81.5) 		19.5
(67.1) 		15.7
(60.3) 		37.8
(100.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 2.9
(37.2) 		4.2
(39.6) 		8.5
(47.3) 		13.2
(55.8) 		18.9
(66.0) 		21.6
(70.9) 		23.7
(74.7) 		23.6
(74.5) 		18.8
(65.8) 		13.4
(56.1) 		7.1
(44.8) 		4.4
(39.9) 		13.4
(56.0)
Daily mean °C (°F) 0.5
(32.9) 		1.4
(34.5) 		4.9
(40.8) 		8.7
(47.7) 		14.0
(57.2) 		17.8
(64.0) 		19.3
(66.7) 		18.9
(66.0) 		14.7
(58.5) 		9.9
(49.8) 		4.7
(40.5) 		2.0
(35.6) 		9.7
(49.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −1.9
(28.6) 		−1.5
(29.3) 		1.3
(34.3) 		4.2
(39.6) 		9.0
(48.2) 		12.3
(54.1) 		14.3
(57.7) 		14.1
(57.4) 		10.6
(51.1) 		6.4
(43.5) 		2.2
(36.0) 		−0.4
(31.3) 		5.9
(42.6)
Record low °C (°F) −21.0
(−5.8) 		−26.0
(−14.8) 		−16.5
(2.3) 		−6.7
(19.9) 		−2.9
(26.8) 		0.8
(33.4) 		5.4
(41.7) 		4.7
(40.5) 		−0.5
(31.1) 		−9.6
(14.7) 		−16.1
(3.0) 		−20.2
(−4.4) 		−26.0
(−14.8)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 42.3
(1.67) 		33.3
(1.31) 		40.5
(1.59) 		37.1
(1.46) 		53.8
(2.12) 		68.7
(2.70) 		55.5
(2.19) 		58.2
(2.29) 		45.1
(1.78) 		37.3
(1.47) 		43.6
(1.72) 		55.3
(2.18) 		570.7
(22.48)
Average rainy days (≥ 1.0 mm) 10.0 8.0 9.1 7.8 8.9 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.8 7.6 9.6 11.4 101.2
Mean monthly sunshine hours 46.5 73.5 120.9 159.0 220.1 222.0 217.0 210.8 156.0 111.6 51.0 37.2 1,625.6
Source: World Meteorological Organization (UN),[12] HKO[13][14]

Cityscape

Berlin's history has left the city with a highly eclectic array of architecture and buildings. The city's appearance today is predominantly shaped by its key position in Germany's history during 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 (re-) construction programs, with each adding its own distinctive style to the city's architecture.

Berlin was devastated by bombing raids during World War II, and many of the buildings that had remained after the war were demolished in the 1950s and 1960s, in both West and East Berlin. Much of this demolition was initiated by municipal architecture programs to build new residential or business quarters and main roads.

The eastern parts of Berlin have many Plattenbauten, reminders of Eastern Bloc ambitions to create complete residential areas consisting of fixed ratios of shops, kindergartens, and schools to the number of residents.

Architecture

Governmental building
Main article: Architecture in Berlin

The Fernsehturm (TV tower) at Alexanderplatz in Mitte is among the tallest structures in the European Union at 368 meters (1,207 ft). Built in 1969, it is visible throughout most of the central districts of Berlin. The city can be viewed from its 204 m (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 Joseph Stalin era. Adjacent to this area is the Rotes Rathaus ("City Hall"), with its distinctive red-brick architecture. In front of the Rotes Rathaus is the Neptunbrunnen, a fountain featuring a mythological group of Tritons, personifications of the four main Prussian rivers, with Neptune situated on top of it.

The Brandenburg Gate

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 and the inauguration of its restoration occurred in November 2009; the restoration project cost the Berlin city government more than €2 million.[15]

Berlin's Brandenburg Gate is an iconic landmark of Germany and appears on Germany's euro coins (10 cent, 20 cent, and 50 cent).[16] The Reichstag building is the traditional seat of the German Parliament, renovated in the 1950s after severe damage sustained during World War II. The building was again remodeled by British architect, Sir Norman Foster, in 1999,[17] and features a glass dome over the session area, which allows free public access to the parliamentary proceedings and magnificent views of the city.

Potsdamer Platz at night

The Gendarmenmarkt, a neoclassical square in Berlin whose name dates back to the quarters of the famous Gens d'armes regiment located here in the 18th century, is bordered by two similarly designed cathedrals, the Französischer Dom with its observation platform and the Deutscher Dom. The Konzerthaus (Concert Hall), home of the Berlin Symphony Orchestra, stands between the two cathedrals.

The Museum Island, in the River Spree, houses five museums, built between 1830 and 1930, and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.[18] Restoration and the construction of a main entrance to all museums, as well as the reconstruction of the Stadtschloss on the same island[19] is costing over 2 billion Euros since reunification.[20] Also located on the island, and adjacent to the Lustgarten and palace, is Berlin Cathedral, emperor William II's ambitious attempt to create a Protestant counterpart to St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.[21] A large crypt in the church houses the remains of some members of the earlier Prussian royal family and the church is now owned by the Protestant umbrella organization, Union of Evangelical Churches (UEK).[citation needed] Like many other buildings, the Berlin Cathedral suffered extensive damage during World War II and was later restored. Berlin's best preserved medieval church, the Church of St. Mary's, is the first preaching venue—Memorial Church being the second—of the Bishop of the Evangelical Church of Berlin-Brandenburg-Silesian Upper Lusatia (EKBO), a Protestant regional church body.[citation needed] St. Hedwig's Cathedral is Berlin's most prominent Roman Catholic cathedral.[22]

View over central Berlin. Unter den Linden in foreground and skyscrapers of Potsdamer Platz up to the right.
Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church is the 2nd preaching venue of the Bishop of the Regional Protestant Church (EKBO).

Unter den Linden is a tree-lined east–west avenue that extends from the Brandenburg Gate to the site of the former Berliner Stadtschloss, and was Berlin's premier promenade in the nineteenth century. Many classical buildings line the street and part of Humboldt University is located there.[23] Friedrichstraße was Berlin's legendary street during the "Roaring Twenties" and today, it combines twentieth-century traditions with the modern architecture of contemporary Berlin. Places of significance in the area include the Admiralspalast, the Friedrichstadt Palast, and the Theater am Schiffbauerdamm, home to the Berliner Ensemble.[24]

Potsdamer Platz is a quarter that was built in its entirety after the Berlin Wall was deconstructed in 1995.[25] To the west of Potsdamer Platz is the Kulturforum, which houses the Gemäldegalerie, and is flanked by the Neue Nationalgalerie and the Berliner Philharmonie. The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, a Holocaust memorial, is situated to the north.[26]

The Hackescher Markt was constructed as a joint endeavour between the Berlin City Commandant, Graf von Hacke, and Friedrich II. In 1840 it was officially renamed as Hackescher Markt. The area around Hackescher Markt is home to fashionable culture, with countless clothing outlets, the offices of international fashion labels, clubs, bars, and galleries.[27] The Hackesche Höfe is also a part of the area and is a conglomeration of buildings that were reconstructed around 1996; the buildings now surround several courtyards.[28] Oranienburger Straße and the nearby New Synagogue were the center of Jewish culture before 1933. Although the New Synagogue is still an anchor for Jewish history and culture, Oranienburger straße and surrounding areas have become increasingly known for pubs, shopping, theaters, art galleries, and nightlife.[29]

Schloss Charlottenburg is the largest existing palace in Berlin.

The Straße des 17. Juni, connecting the Brandenburg Gate and Ernst-Reuter-Platz, serves as a central East-West axis. Situated in the western part of the city, its name commemorates the uprisings in East Berlin of June 17, 1953.[30] 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 from its previous position in front of the Reichstag in 1938 by the Nazis.[31]

The Kurfürstendamm is home to some of Berlin's luxury shops, restaurants, and cafes, with the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church at its eastern end on Breitscheidplatz (the church was destroyed in World War II and left in ruins, but was rebuilt between 1959 and 1963);[32] theaters and concert halls, such as Philharmonie Berlin and Theater am Kurfürstendamm, are also located in the neighborhood.[33] Nearby on Tauentzienstraße, is KaDeWe, continental Europe's largest department store.[34] The Rathaus Schöneberg ("City Hall"), where John F. Kennedy made his famous "Ich bin ein Berliner!" speech, is situated in Tempelhof-Schöneberg.[35]

West of the city center, Schloss Bellevue is the residence of the German President.[36] Schloss Charlottenburg, which was severely damaged by fire during World War II, and largely destroyed, has been rebuilt and is the largest surviving historical palace in Berlin.[37]

The Funkturm Berlin is a 150 m (490 ft)-tall lattice radio tower, built between 1924 and 1926. The construction was designed by architect, Heinrich Straumer, and became operative at the 3rd IFA fair; several years after becoming operative, it was sending television images without sound. The tower hosts a restaurant 55 m (180 ft) and an observation deck 126 m (413 ft) above-ground, which is reachable by a glass elevator. On a clear day, the tower offers a comprehensive view of western Berlin.[38]

Tallest buildings

Main article: List of tallest buildings in Berlin
Rank Name Image Height (m)
 Year built
1 Berliner Fernsehturm 368 1965–1969
2 Berliner Funkturm 146.8 1924-1926
3 Park Inn Berlin 125 1967-1969
4 Treptowers 125 1995-1998
5 Steglitzer Kreisel 119 1968-1980

References

  1. ^ INSEE. "Population des villes et unités urbaines de plus de 1 million d'habitants de l'Union européenne" (in French). Retrieved 17 August 2008.
  2. ^ "Daten und Fakten Hauptstadtregion". Berlin-Brandenburg.de. Archived from the original on October 29, 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ "Initiativkreis Europäische Metropolregionen in Deutschland: Berlin-Brandenburg". Deutsche-metropolregionen.org. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  4. ^ "PowerPoint-Präsentation" (PDF). Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  5. ^ "City Profiles Berlin". Urban Audit. Retrieved 20 August 2008.
  6. ^ Gren Berlin. Retrieved 9 October 2009. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  7. ^ "Satellite Image Berlin". Google Maps. Retrieved 18 August 2008.
  8. ^ DER IRISCHE BERLINER (1 June 2010). "Teufelsberg (Abandoned spy station)". Abandoned Berlin. Google, Inc. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  9. ^ Template:De icon Boroughs, Localities, and Statistical Tracts from Berlin's Statistical Office Archived January 1, 1970, at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ "weather.com". weather.com. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
  11. ^ "Climate figures". World Weather Information Service. Retrieved 18 August 2008.
  12. ^ "World Weather Information Service – Berlin". Worldweather.wmo.int. 5 October 2006. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
  13. ^ "Climatological Normals of Berlin". Hong Kong Observatory. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
  14. ^ "Berliner Extremwerte".
  15. ^ AP (9 November 2009). "Berlin Wall anniversary: East Side Gallery restored to state twenty years ago". The Telegraph. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  16. ^ "German - Euro Coin Sets". Eurocoins.co.uk. Chard (1964) Limited. 1 January 2002. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  17. ^ "Norman Foster and the Dramatic Renovations of Reichstag /". Sphere (in Spanish and English). Faena. 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  18. ^ "World Heritage Committee Inscribes 48 New Sites on Heritage List". UNESCO. © UNESCO World Heritage Centre. 2 December 1999. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  19. ^ "Neumann: Stadtschloss wird teurer". Berliner Zeitung (in German). 24 June 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
  20. ^ "Das Pathos der Berliner Republik". Berliner Zeitung (in German). 19 May 2010. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
  21. ^ "Berliner Dom". a view on cities. www.aviewoncities.com. 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  22. ^ Visit Berlin; Jewhyte-Dreamstime.com (2012). "St.-Hedwigs-Kathedrale Like the Pantheon in Rome". Visit Berlin. Berlin Tourismus & Kongress GmbH. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  23. ^ Visit Berlin; Scholvien (2012). "Berlin's Top 10 Sights The capital´s highlights". Visit Berlin. Berlin Tourismus & Kongress GmbH. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  24. ^ "Berlin Sights: Friedrichstrasse". Fodor's Travel Intelligence. Fodor's Travel, a division of Random House, Inc. 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  25. ^ "Construction and redevelopment since 1990". Senate Department of Urban Development. Archived from the original on June 10, 2008. Retrieved 18 August 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ Ouroussoff, Nicolai (9 May 2005). "A Forest of Pillars, Recalling the Unimaginable". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 5, 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2008. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  27. ^ "Hackescher Markt, Berlin". 360° Berlin. 360°Berlin. 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  28. ^ "Berlin". NC State University Prague Institute. NC State University Prague Institute. 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  29. ^ Jutta Kuhse-Kemper; Laurie Anne Kocher; Knut Kuhse; Barbara Funke; Stephan Maahs; Georg Knauf (2012). "Walks, Shops and Nightlife". Nature Park Travel - Europe off the beaten track (in English and German). Barbara Funke. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  30. ^ "The June 17th Uprising". Western Allies Berlin. www.western-allies-berlin.com. 2004–2012. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  31. ^ "Siegessäule". Berlin.de (in English and German). Werben auf Berlin.de. 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  32. ^ "Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church". Historvius: Mapping History. LilyPad & Fortimus. 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  33. ^ "Shopping and nightlife on Kurfürstendamm". Concorde Hotels & Resorts. Societe Concorde Management Company, SAS. 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  34. ^ Isabella Redmond Styles (29 October 2012). "How KaDeWe became mainland Europe's largest department store". Global Blue. Global Blue. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  35. ^ "1963: Kennedy: 'Ich bin ein Berliner'". BBC News. BBC. 26 June 2008. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  36. ^ "Schloss Bellevue > History". Der Bundespräsidialamt (in English and German). Bundespräsidialamt. 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  37. ^ "Prussian Palaces: Charlottenburg Palace". Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten Berlin-Brandenburg (in English and German). zum Seitenanfang. 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  38. ^ BLEIBTREU BERLIN; www.visitBerlin.de (2012). "'Funkturm' Radio Tower". BLEIBTREU BERLIN. BLEIBTREU BERLIN. Retrieved 6 December 2012.

Media related to Geography of Berlin at Wikimedia Commons

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Geography_of_Berlin&oldid=749506530"