Berlin

Berlin (pop. 3,438,000), capital city of Germany located in the eastern part of the country on the Spree and Havel rivers. It covers 341 sq mi (883 sq km) and is at the center of a network of railroads and waterway s. It was the capital of Germany from 1871–1945. After World War II, it was divided into East Berlin (which became the capital of the communist state of East Germany) and West Berlin (a state of West Germany). In August 1961 East Germany erected the Berlin Wall to separate the 2 parts of the city. On October 3, 1990, divided Berlin was officially reunited as East Germany ceased its independent existence and became part of a unified German state The new German government appointed Berlin as the new capital city in 1991. The full transition to Berlin will take until the early 2000s.

See also: Germany.