Feature

Details

Geographical Location

It is located in Central Europe, bordered by Denmark (north), Poland and Czech Republic (east), Austria and Switzerland (south), France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands (west)

Topography

Diverse landscape featuring mountains, hills, forests, and plains.

Major Mountain Ranges

• The Alps (south)
• The Bavarian Forest (southeast)
• The Black Forest (southwest)
• The Harz Mountains (central)

Highest Peak

Zugspitze, 2,962 meters located in the Bavarian Alps.

Plains and Lowlands

North German Plain extends across the northern part of the country
Characterized by flat terrain and coastal areas.

Rivers

Major rivers include the Rhine, Danube, Elbe, Weser, and Oder
The Rhine is the longest river within Germany (865 km).

Lakes

Largest lake: Lake Constance (Bodensee), shared with Austria and Switzerland
Other lakes: Müritz, Chiemsee.

Forests

• Approximately 30% of the land is covered by forests.
• Major forests: Black Forest, Thuringian Forest, Bavarian Forest.

Coastline

• Northern coastline along the North Sea and the Baltic Sea.
• Features islands like Sylt, Rügen, and Usedom.

Climate

• Temperate seasonal climate.
• Warm summers and cold winters, with precipitation evenly distributed throughout the year.

Natural Resources

Rich in coal, lignite, natural gas, iron ore, copper, and potash
Forests and fertile land support agriculture.

Islands

Major islands include Sylt, Föhr, Amrum (North Sea) and Rügen, Usedom (Baltic Sea).

Biodiversity

• Home to various wildlife including deer, wild boar, and numerous bird species.
• Protected areas include national parks like Bavarian Forest, Eifel, and Saxon Switzerland.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Consider the following countries:

1. France
2. Netherlands
3. Austria
4. Switzerland
5. Poland
6. Denmark

How many of the above-given countries border Germany?

(a) Only Two

(b) Only Three

(c) Only Five

(d) All Six

Answer:  (d)

Explanation:

Germany borders nine countries:

North: Denmark

East: Poland and the Czech Republic

South: Austria and Switzerland

West: Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and France.