Hamburg- September 14th

            My favorite German state of the 16, is Hamburg. Hamburg was the most appealing to me because of the big harbor, and they have a very livable and enjoyable location. The reasons Hamburg interested me so much is because of the location, the economy, and the attractions the city-state has to offer.

 To begin, Hamburg is located in North-west Germany on the Elbe River. Clip: “Located at the southern tip of Jutland Peninsula, Hamburg is physically placed at the middle of Continental Europe and Scandinavia as well as, two water bodies of North Sea and the Baltic Sea. Hamburg is positioned at the confluence of rivers Elbe, Alster and Bille. The center of the city is also surrounded by two scenic lakes of Binnenalster or Inner Alster and the Aussenalster or Outer Alster.” End clip. (http://www.mapsofworld.com/germany/cities/germany-city-maps/germany-city-information/hamburg-germany.html 9/13/2011).

Second, the city has the highest GDP in Germany. It has a high employment rate with 88% of the working age population, employed in over 120,000 businesses. The most significant economic source for Hamburg is the Port of Hamburg. Hamburg ranks 3rd in Europe and 9th in the world. Clip: “Hamburg, Germany’s second-biggest city and the richest, has the strongest economy in the country.” End clip. (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-15/hamburg-has-germany-s-strongest-economy-capital-magazine-says.html 9/13/2011).

Lastly, this city is a home to over 1.8 million people. The people who live here try to keep the city atmosphere to remain open, but also remain discreet at the same time. Many citizens at first seem to be quiet and reserved, but when they get to know whom they are dealing with them tend to open up. Most people report that they are warm and friendly.  Clip: “The city is a major tourist destination both for people who live in Germany and out of nation travelers. This city has many options for people who love art and history. There are 40 theatres, 60 museums, and 100 music venues and clubs.” End clip (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamburg 9/13/2011). There are many sites for tourists to go to and residents to visit regularly. Available attractions suit interests of nearly everyone, from museums and venues for drama, concerts and musicals to a never-ending miniature railway and a chamber of horrors. Clip: “Hamburg's harbor has had a profound influence on the town's history right from the start, and, with its landing stage (the Landungsbrocken) and huge container ships, the harbor is still Hamburg's biggest tourist attraction today.” End clip. (http://www.antor.org/germany/hamburg/port-of-hamburg.html 9/13/2011).

To conclude, Hamburg, Germany is the most appealing state. The location is beautiful for visiting and residing, the economy is expanding, and the attractions are entertaining for people of all kinds.