Saxony-Anhalt

Saxony-Anhalt is a constituent state of Germany. It is located in the western part of eastern Germany.

The state borders four other German states. These are Brandenburg to the northeast, Saxony to the southeast, Thuringia to the southwest, and Lower Saxony to the northwest. Saxony-Anhalt covers a large area of land. It is the 8th-largest state in Germany by size. However, it is the 11th-largest state by population. About 2.17 million people live in the state. The capital city is Magdeburg.

The landscape of Saxony-Anhalt is very diverse. In the north, the North German Plain dominates the view. This area is a flat and wide expanse of land. The Altmark region sits in this northern part. It is sparsely populated and contains old Hanseatic towns. These include Salzwedel, Gardelegen, Stendal, and Tangermünde. Near Wolfsburg, the land transitions through the Colbitz-Letzlingen Heath. This leads into the Elbe-Börde-Heath region. This area contains the Magdeburg Börde. The soil here is very fertile and the woods are sparse. Notable towns in this fertile region include Haldensleben, Oschersleben, and the capital, Magdeburg.

In the southwest, the terrain rises into the Harz mountains. This mountain range includes the Harz National Park. It also contains the Harz Foreland and the Mansfeld Land. The highest peak is the Brocken. It reaches an elevation of 1,141 meters. This makes it the highest mountain in Northern Germany. Many towns are found in this mountainous area. These include Halberstadt, Wernigerode, Thale, Eisleben, and Quedlinburg. In the south, the Saale and Unstrut rivers flow through the land. These rivers support the Saale-Unstrut wine-growing area. Towns like Zeitz, Naumburg, Weißenfels, and Freyburg are located here.

The history of Saxony-Anhalt is relatively short. It was formed in July 1945 after World War II. The Soviet army administration created the state. They merged the former Prussian Province of Saxony with the Free State of Anhalt.

In 1949, the state became part of the German Democratic Republic. Later, administrative reforms in 1952 dissolved the state. Its territory was divided into the districts of Halle and Magdeburg. This lasted until German reunification in 1990. At that time, Saxony-Anhalt was re-established. It became one of the new states of the Federal Republic of Germany.

The economy of the state has undergone major changes. After reunification, the collapse of old industries caused problems. In the year 2000, the unemployment rate was 20.2 percent. This was the highest rate of any German state. However, the state has since transformed into a modern market economy. Massive investments were made in modern infrastructure. The industry has become much more competitive. For example, international revenue from industry doubled between 1995 and 2008. The gross domestic product was 62.7 billion euros in 2018. This accounts for 1.9 percent of Germany's total economic output. The GDP per capita was 26,000 euros in 2018.

Urban centers play a vital role in the state. Magdeburg is the largest city with 241,517 people.

Halle (Saale) is the second-largest city. It has a population of 226,586.

Halle is home to the state's largest university. The area around Halle and Leipzig is a major industrial hub. It is known as the Chemiedreieck, or chemical triangle. This region has a highly developed chemical industry. Major production plants are located at Leuna, Schkopau, and Bitterfeld. Other important towns include Dessau-Roßlau and Wittenberg. Wittenberg is famous for its connection to Martin Luther.

Social and religious patterns have also shifted over time. Historically, the region was associated with the Lutheran faith. However, many people became irreligious under Communist rule. In 2018, Saxony-Anhalt was the most irreligious state in Germany. About 82.8 percent of citizens were religiously unaffiliated. Only 15.2 percent of the population adhered to Christian denominations. This included 11.9 percent in the Protestant Church and 3.3 percent in the Catholic Church. The state also has a history of political change. The administrative structure changed from three regions to 11 rural districts and three urban districts in 2004. This helps manage the diverse needs of the population.