EBERSWALDE-FINOW

city, Brandenburg Land (state), northeastern Germany, in the Thorn-Eberswalder glacial valley, approximately 30 miles (50 km) northeast of Berlin. Occupation of the site from the early Bronze Age is attested by the discovery at Finow in 1913 of a gold hoard dating from about the 11th to the 10th century BC. The margraves of Brandenburg selected a fortified Slavic site in 1261 for the building of a castle, about which Eberswalde grew. Market rights were granted sometime before 1276 and city rights just prior to 1300. From 1400 to 1876, the city (including annexations of nearby villages) was known as Neustadt Eberswalde. Location at a natural ford of the Finow, together with nearby forests, bog-iron deposits, and water power, made the city an early centre for trade, woodworking, milling, and metalworking (the first iron forge dates from 1440). The Finow was canalized (160220), improving navigation, and although the city was sacked during the Thirty Years' War (161848), development continued with the construction of the Finow Canal in the 17th century. Traditional industries were given new impetus in the mid-18th century by the settlement of Thuringian cutlers and by the rise in the 19th century of what is still Europe's largest marine and industrial crane factory. The Oder-Havel Canal (completed 1914) passes just north of the city; modern industries include rolling mills, gravel and brick industries based on glacial deposits, and chemicals. Cultural resources of the city include a forest research institute (1830) with a botanical garden, a medical school, and a local museum. Pop. (1983 est.) 53,381.