Brandenburg is an exception insofar as it completely surrounds the city-state of Berlin. Dominated by pine forests, rivers and lakes, the country has few mountains which exceed 100 metres in height. Large rivers such as the Elbe and the Oder only pass on Brandenburgs borders, but the Lusatian Neisse, the Havel and the Spree in community with numerous lakes make Brandenburg a state dominated water courses and lakes.

Since Brandenburg is economically under-developed outside of the immediate surroundings of Berlin, also the population development is negative, falling below figures attained during World War II with less than 2.5 millions of inhabitants in April 2011. In the Lower Lausitz lives a part of the West Slavic minority in Germany, the Sorbs. There are approximately 20,000 Low-Sorbs, who speak their endangered language.

Compared to other states of Germany as for example Bavaria, Brandenburg´s tourism is not developed very well so far, however showing high growth rates. In 2007 more than 52,000 people were employed in tourism, generating more than 9,000,000 hotel nights. The large protected areas with their vast forests and numerous lakes and rivulets mainly provide for rural tourism, waters sports, cycling and hiking. Brandenburg with 3,087 lakes ranks number three amongst the states with most lakes, following Bavaria and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. 13 percent of the area of the entire country are areas covered with water.

The major destinations to be visited in Brandenburg include the large nature-protected areas, for example the Lower Oder Valley National Park and the Spreewald Biosphere Reserve, where in addition to eagles and storks also otters and beavers are to be encountered. Beavers are endangered in Germany.

Major attractions are the Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam, the castle Boitzenburg in Uckermark, and the monasteries Chorin, Dobrilug and Lehnin. The Palaces, Gardens and Parks of Potsdam were included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage in 1990. The facilities represent 500 hectares park with 150 buildings from the period 1730 until 1916.

More information: http://www.brandenburg.de/cms/detail.php/lbm1.c.392425.de

Photo: Sanssouci Palace, Sergey Kelin/Shutterstock