germany facts interesting facts about germany
Interesting Facts About Germany
Germany has always been known to be a rich and progressive nation. It has contributed a lot towards human progress. This article dwells on some interesting facts about Germany.
Interesting Facts
- Germany is known for its rich forest cover with Zugspitze, at 2,962 meters above sea level, making it the highest mountain in Germany. There are more than 400 registered parks and zoos in the country, with The Berlin Zoo being the oldest in the world.
- German is the third most commonly taught language worldwide and it is the official language of 5 countries: Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein.
- German people are the world's third biggest consumers of beer after the Czechs and the Irish. Germany is one of the last Western European countries not to have banned smoking in workplaces and restaurants.
- Germany has a highway or autobahn network of more than 7,982 miles (2012) with no speed limits (although it is advisable not to exceed 130 km/h or go below 60 km/h). If you run out of gas on an autobahn, you could get fined. You cannot stop, turn, or park your vehicle on the highway. And, it is against the rules to overtake another vehicle from the right side.
- Football is the most popular sport and the German Football Association is the largest association of its kind on a global level. Germany boasts of the highest number of soccer fan clubs in the world.
- The working week in Germany is 6 days - Monday to Saturday.
- Traditionally, the schools end at lunch time. Therefore children are free to utilize the rest of the day in extra curricular activities and sports.
- The main dishes of Germans are pork, beef and veal, fish, and potatoes.
- Quark refers to a type of cheese. It is made from skim milk and has a thick consistency.
- Germany is the birthplace of the automobile and has a long history of manufacturing strong and reliable cars. The automobile industry is the largest employer and it's not surprising that one of the German car manufacturer is the third largest producer of automobiles in the world.
- Germany is the cheapest place in Europe for buying beers. There are more than 300 different kinds of bread, over 1,200 breweries, and 1,500 types of sausages and cold meats.
- Germans do not say hi or hello when they answer a phone call. They say their last name.
- Germans are dog lovers and take them almost anywhere with them - restaurants, trains, buses, and shops as well.
- The biggest festival is known as Oktoberfest, but it actually starts in September.