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Situated at the very heart of Europe, Germany's diversity astounds the visitor. Travel to Germany and discover fairytale castles, picturesque villages, crystal-clear lakes and snow-capped mountains, the mystical Black Forest, stunning Rhine River cruises, traditional Christmas markets and of course the world-famous Oktoberfest. Germany's elegant cities, including the hip and stylish capital city of Berlin, are vibrant cultural and historical centers and their sidewalk cafés are the perfect place to sit down, relax and watch the world go by. Now is the time to travel to Germany and experience this beautiful and historic country in all its splendor.
Driving in Germany is a wonderful experience. As well as being a great place to drive around, Germany has a long tradition of car manufacturing. German car brands such as AUDI, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Opel, Porsche and Volkswagen are extremely popular all over the world. So, why not take the opportunity to explore Germany under your own steam? All the top destinations are quickly and easily accessible via modern highways and an extensive network of secondary roads. Just sit back and enjoy the ride.
While driving around Germany you'll have plenty of opportunity to learn more about this top car producing country. As well as visiting German car museums with their collections of legendary vehicles, and motor-themed visitor centers that are fun for all ages, you can tour the factories where the cars are made or choose from a wide variety of motorsports events.
Germany has the second largest population in Europe (after European Russia) and is seventh largest in area. The territory of Germany covers 357,021 square kilometres (137,850 sq mi), consisting of 349,223 square kilometres (134,835 sq mi) of land and 7,798 square kilometres (3,010 sq mi) of water. Elevation ranges from the mountains of the Alps (highest point: the Zugspitze at 2,962 metres (9,718 ft)) in the south to the shores of the North Sea (Nordsee) in the north-west and the Baltic Sea (Ostsee) in the north-east. Between lie the forested uplands of central Germany and the low-lying lands of northern Germany (lowest point: Wilstermarsch at 3.54 metres (11.6 ft) below sea level), traversed by some of Europe's major rivers such as the Rhine, Danube and Elbe. Because of its central location, Germany shares borders with more European countries than any other country on the continent. Its neighbours are Denmark in the north, Poland and the Czech Republic in the east, Austria and Switzerland in the south, France and Luxembourg in the south-west and Belgium and the Netherlands in the north-west.
Most of Germany has a cool, temperate climate in which humid westerly winds predominate. The climate is moderated by the North Atlantic Drift, which is the northern extension of the Gulf Stream. This warmer water affects the areas bordering the North Sea including the peninsula of Jutland and the area along the Rhine, which flows into the North Sea. Consequently in the north-west and the north, the climate is oceanic; rainfall occurs year round with a maximum during summer. Winters there are mild and summers tend to be cool, though temperatures can exceed 30 °C (86 °F) for prolonged periods. In the east, the climate is more continental; winters can be very cold, summers can be very warm, and long dry periods are often recorded. Central and southern Germany are transition regions which vary from moderately oceanic to continental. Again, the maximum temperature can exceed 30 °C (86 °F) in summer .
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