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Bremen

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Bremen is a major city-state in northern Germany. It is the capital of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen. This state is unique because it consists of two cities. These are the cities of Bremen and Bremerhaven.

Bremen 12 Häfen
Bremen 12 Häfen

Bremen is the largest city on the River Weser. The Weser is the longest river that flows entirely within Germany. The river flows toward its mouth in the North Sea. This mouth is located at Bremerhaven. Bremen is also the center of the Northwest Metropolitan Region. This large region includes the cities of Oldenburg and Bremerhaven. In total, the region has about 2.8 million people.

The geography of the city is defined by the River Weser. The city sits on both sides of the river.

Weserhb2
Weserhb2

The river is divided into different sections. Opposite the Altstadt, the Middle Weser becomes the Lower Weser. The river has been made navigable for ocean-going vessels. This allows large ships to reach the port area. To the left of the Lower Weser are the Weser Marshes. The right bank is part of the Elbe-Weser Triangle. Several rivers flow into the Weser as downstream tributaries. These include the Lesum, the Wümme, and the Hamme.

Bremen 11 Mitte
Bremen 11 Mitte

Bremen has a very low elevation compared to other places. The inner city sits on a Weser dune. This area reaches a height of 10.5 meters above sea level. The highest point in the city is 14.4 meters above sea level.

Bremen 24 Huchting
Bremen 24 Huchting

The highest natural feature is in Friedehorst Park. This point reaches 32.5 meters above sea level. Because of this, Bremen has the lowest high point of all German states. The climate is a moderate oceanic climate, known as Cfb. This is caused by the nearby North Sea. Westerly winds from the Atlantic Ocean bring temperate maritime air. This usually keeps temperatures from becoming too extreme.

The history of Bremen spans over 1,200 years. It began as a settlement in the early Middle Ages. In 787, it became the seat of a bishopric. During the High Middle Ages, it became a famous trading center.

Braun Bremen UBHD
Braun Bremen UBHD

In the 13th century, it joined the Hanseatic League. This group of cities controlled trade in Northern Europe. For most of its history, Bremen was an independent city. It was part of the Holy Roman Empire. The city faced many conflicts over its independence. It contended with the Church and the Duchy of Bremen-Verden. In 1871, Prussia drew Bremen into the German Empire. This change helped Bremen become a major hub for overseas trade.

Bremen became a vital part of the global economy. The city was a main port for emigrants traveling to the Americas. It also served as an entrepôt for colonial trade. An entrepôt is a port where goods are traded. In 1857, the Norddeutscher Lloyd shipping company was founded here. It became one of the leading shipping companies in the world. The port of Bremen and the port of Bremerhaven are very large. They are the second-largest ports in Germany.

Bremen 12 Häfen
Bremen 12 Häfen

The city also has a busy airport. It is located in the Neustadt-Neuenland borough. It is the 12th busiest airport in Germany.

The city is a major cultural and economic hub today. It has many famous museums and galleries. These include the Bremen Overseas Museum and the Weserburg.

BaumwollboerseBremen-1
BaumwollboerseBremen-1

Some sites are even protected by UNESCO. The Town Hall and the Bremen Roland are World Heritage Sites. The city is also famous for the Brothers Grimm fairy tale. This story is called the "Town Musicians of Bremen." There is a statue of these musicians near the city hall. Today, the city has about 586,000 inhabitants. It is the 11th largest city in Germany. It is also the 5th largest city by area.

Bremen's population has changed over many decades. During the 1950s and 1960s, the economy boomed. This led to a large population of migrant workers. Many came from Turkey and southern Europe. Later, more people arrived from former East Bloc countries. Since 2015, many refugees from Syria have also settled there. This makes the city very diverse. In the second decade of the century, about one-third of the population had non-German origins.

Bürgerschaft of Bremen 2023
Bürgerschaft of Bremen 2023

The city is also known for its politics. It has a reputation as a left-wing city. This is partly due to its history of shipyards and unions. The state is currently governed by a coalition of three parties. These are the Social Democrats, the Greens, and The Left.

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🖼️ Images & Media (34)
File:Braun Bremen UBHD.jpg
Braun Bremen UBHD.jpg
File:Weserhb2.jpg
Weserhb2.jpg
File:Bürgerschaft_of_Bremen_2023.svg
Bürgerschaft_of_Bremen_2023.svg
File:Bremen 11 Mitte.svg
Bremen 11 Mitte.svg
File:Bremen 12 Häfen.svg
Bremen 12 Häfen.svg
File:Bremen 21 Neustadt.svg
Bremen 21 Neustadt.svg
File:Bremen 24 Huchting.svg
Bremen 24 Huchting.svg
File:Bremen 26 Seehausen.svg
Bremen 26 Seehausen.svg
File:Bremen 23 Obervieland.svg
Bremen 23 Obervieland.svg
File:Bremen 25 Woltmershausen.svg
Bremen 25 Woltmershausen.svg
File:Bremen 27 Strom.svg
Bremen 27 Strom.svg
File:Bremen 31 Östliche Vorstadt.svg
Bremen 31 Östliche Vorstadt.svg

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