Central Eastern Europe HAMBURG 2014 Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany (Bundesrepublik Deutschland) is a country at the intersection of Central and Western Europe. Hamburg, officially the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg (German: Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg; Low Saxon: Friee un Hansestadt Hamborg), is the second-largest city in Germany after Berlin and 7th largest city in the European Union with a population of over 1.84 million. The city lies on the River Elbe and two of its tributaries, the River Alster and the River Bille. Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg june 2014 One of Germany's 16 federated states, Hamburg is surrounded by Schleswig-Holstein to the north and Lower Saxony to the south. The official name reflects Hamburg's history as a member of the medieval Hanseatic League and a free imperial city of the Holy Roman Empire. Hamburg hosts specialists in world economics and international law, including consular and diplomatic missions as the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, the EU-LAC Foundation, and the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, multipartite international political conferences and summits such as Europe and China and the G20. Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, june 2014. Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg Germany, june 2014. Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg Germany, june 2014. Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg Germany, june 2014. Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg Germany, june 2014. Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg Germany, june 2014. Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg Germany, june 2014. Aside from its rich architectural heritage, the city is also home to notable cultural venues such as the Elbphilharmonie and Laeiszhalle concert halls. Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg Germany, june 2014. Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg Germany, june 2014. Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg Germany, june 2014. Hamburg's rivers and canals are crossed by around 2,500 bridges, making it the city with the highest number of bridges in Europe. Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg Germany, june 2014. Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg Germany, june 2014. Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg Germany, june 2014. Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg Germany, june 2014. Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg Germany, june 2014. Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg Germany, june 2014. Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg Germany, june 2014. Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg Germany, june 2014. Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg Germany, june 2014. Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg Germany, june 2014. Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg Germany, june 2014. Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg Germany, june 2014. Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg Germany, june 2014. Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg Germany, june 2014. Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg Germany, june 2014. KIEL 2014 Kiel's recorded history began in the 13th century. Before then, in the eighth century, it was a Danish village. Kiel Schleswig-Holstein june 2014 Kiel is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 249,023. Due to its geographic location in the southeast of the Jutland peninsula on the southwestern shore of the Baltic Sea, Kiel has become one of Germany's major maritime centres, known for a variety of international sailing events, including the annual Kiel Week, which is the biggest sailing event in the world. Kiel lies approximately 90 kilometres (56 mi) north of Hamburg. Kiel is also known for the Kiel Mutiny, when sailors refused to board their vessels in protest against Germany's further participation in World War I, resulting in the abdication of the Kaiser and the formation of the Weimar Republic. Kiel has also been one of the traditional homes of the German Navy's Baltic fleet, and continues to be a major high-tech shipbuilding centre. Kiel Schleswig-Holstein Germany, june 2014. Kiel Schleswig-Holstein Germany, june 2014. Kiel Schleswig-Holstein Germany, june 2014. Kiel Schleswig-Holstein Germany, june 2014. Kiel Schleswig-Holstein Germany, june 2014. Kiel Schleswig-Holstein Germany, june 2014. Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg 2005 Hamburg june 2005 . Germany's "Gateway to the World" the largest port in Germany. Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, june 2005 . Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. Central Station . Hamburg Zoo Tierpark. Hamburg june 2005 .