Brandenburg

Basic data:

Universities:

Cottbus: Brandenburg Technical University of Cottbus
Frankfurt (Oder): European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder)
Potsdam: University of Potsdam

Geography:

Brandenburg is located in the North German lowlands. From north to south, the main large landscapes of Brandenburg are the Baltic or northern ridge, the zone of plateaux and glacial valleys, and the southern ridge. The glacial valleys (Thorn-Eberswalder, Warsaw-Berliner, Glogau-Baruther glacial valley) running in a west-east direction take up most of Brandenburg. These are separated from one another by higher, larger plates (e.g. Barnim, Teltow) and smaller ones (so-called Ländchen).

Due to the Ice Age depositional area of ​​the north German lowlands, there is a constant change between dry, sandy-loamy elevations and damp, partially moorland valleys with numerous lakes. Between the Havel and the Oder lowlands lies the southern part of the Uckermark with the Schorfheide, which is rich in forests and lakes.

Artificial drainage and drainage have led to agricultural use of these areas over the centuries.

Brandenburg is considered to be the federal state in Germany with the most water. There are over 3,000 naturally formed lakes, as well as numerous artificial ponds, quarry ponds and similar bodies of water. Oder, Neisse and Elbe are border rivers of the federal states. Only the Havel with its tributary the Spree is mostly in Brandenburg. About 35% of the country\'s area is forested.

The Kutschenberg at 201 m above sea level on the western outskirts of Upper Lusatia is the highest mountain in the state.

Brandenburg shares a border with Poland.

Climate:

The state of Brandenburg is located in the transition area between oceanic climate in western Europe and continental climate in the east. Due to the relatively small differences in altitude, the climatic differences within the country are rather small, but can be clearly felt in certain weather conditions.

history:

Since the 9th century, the area of ​​present-day Brandenburg has been occupied by the Heveller tribe with the centers of Brennabor (Brandenburg) and Spandow (Spandau; today\'s district of Berlin) and the tribe living to the east of them, separated by a broad forest belt, on the Spree of the Sprewanen with its political center Köpenick (today also incorporated into Berlin).

During the first phase of German eastward expansion (eastern settlement) in 929, an East Frankish army under King Heinrich I conquered the princely seat of the Heveller Brennabor. The area was subjected to German feudal rule and subject to tribute.

For the next 200 years, this land will continue to pass from hand to hand. After Albrecht reconquered Brandenburg in 1157, this day is generally considered to be the founding day of the Mark Brandenburg. Albrecht the Bear called himself Margrave of Brandenburg from then on. Under his rule Germans immigrated again. The Hevellers largely retreated to fishing villages.

The first cities emerged as market towns or branches for long-distance trade. In 1237 the city of Berlin came into being, followed in 1253 by Frankfurt an der Oder. By the 14th century, the Ascanians and later the Wittelsbachs expanded the Mark Brandenburg into the largest principality in Germany.

The country was severely devastated during the Thirty Years\' War. Under the rule of Elector Friedrich Wilhelm, later called the great Elector, from 1640 onwards, Huguenots from France, but also Dutch, Swiss and other peoples settled here.This led to an upswing in trade and commerce in the country.

The successor of the Great Elector, Elector Friedrich III, founded the Prussian kingdom. He had himself crowned in Königsberg in 1701 and henceforth called himself Frederick I, King in Prussia. This made the Mark Brandenburg part of Prussia. The \"soldier king\" Friedrich Wilhelm I continued the succession of Hohenzollern rulers. Under the reign of Frederick II, known as the Great, from 1740 to 1786, Prussia grew into a political power of European importance.

Along with Berlin, Brandenburg was the political center of Prussia and Germany in the 19th century. From 1815 Brandenburg was the largest Prussian province along with the previously Saxon Lower Lusatia. Berlin separated from the province of Brandenburg in 1920 with the Greater Berlin Act.

The Second World War hit the province of Brandenburg with enormous destruction. The province lost about 30 percent of its territory as a result of the Potsdam Agreement of 1945 entire Neumark east of the Oder and Neisse was awarded to Poland.

Brandenburg was in the Soviet occupation zone and was divided into the districts of Potsdam, Cottbus and Frankfurt (Oder) during the GDR era.

After the reunification of the two German states, the freely elected People\'s Chamber decided on July 22, 1990 to reintroduce the states.

On October 3, 1990, the state of Brandenburg was founded with the state capital of Potsdam. The country\'s new constitution was approved by referendum on June 14, 1992. In May 1996, the people of Brandenburg decided in a referendum with a majority against a unification of the states of Berlin and Brandenburg.

Economy:

The most important sectors are ferrous metallurgy, machine and electric locomotive construction around Berlin and Eisenhüttenstadt, as well as electrical engineering/electronics in Potsdam, Teltow, Hennigsdorf and Oranienburg. Traditional branches of industry in Lower Lusatia are the textile and glass industries in Muskau and Finsterwalde

About half of the land area can be used for agriculture. The cultivation of wheat, rye, oilseeds, potatoes and sugar beet is concentrated in the north-west of the Prignitz, in the Neuruppin area, in the Uckermark around Prenzlau-Angermünde-Schwedt/Oder. Important fruit-growing areas developed in the Havel lowlands around Werder and Buckow. The wetlands are the main areas of vegetable cultivation (Spreewald, Oderbruch) and grassland farming with cattle breeding.

About 35% of the country\'s area is forested. Landscapes rich in lakes and forests are used as recreation areas.

Brown coal is mainly mined in Lower Lusatia and near Fürstenberg an der Oder. The lignite is used to generate energy. Brown coal follow-up landscapes are being rehabilitated at great expense.