HAMBURG

port city and Land (state), northern Germany. The Land, third smallest of the 16 German Lnder (after Bremen and Berlin), is coextensive with the metropolitan area of Hamburg. The city is the country's largest port and commercial centre and one of the largest and busiest ports in Europe. Hamburg stands at the northern extremity of the lower Elbe River valley, 68 miles (109 km) upstream from the Elbe's North Sea outlet. The Elbe divides into north and south branches southeast of the old city and reunites as the Unterelbe to the west of the old city. Hamburg's metropolitan area borders the Lnder of Schleswig-Holstein to the north and Lower Saxony to the south. The city has mild winters and summers, with high humidity and frequent fog; its mean winter and summer temperatures are 34 F (1 C) and 63 F (17 C), respectively. Hamburg is the chief economic centre of northern Germany and the nation's foremost industrial city, producing copper, vegetable and mineral oils, machinery, electrotechnical goods, and cigarettes. The city, a focus of intercontinental as well as of western European and Scandinavian trade, is the centre of Germany's shipping concerns. Its harbour handles more than half of the country's imports (foodstuffs, tea, coffee, and petroleum) and exports (machinery, processed petroleum, copper, and pharmaceuticals). Hamburg city lies on both sides of the Alster River, which is dammed a short distance from its mouth on the Elbe River to form a lake. The old town, just south of the Alster, is crossed by a number of narrow canals (Fleete); the new town lies to its west. During World War II, Allied air raids demolished more than half of Hamburg's residential area and harbour installations, necessitating long-range reconstruction efforts. The five principal churches within the ancient city walls conserve traces of the past, while most of the existing buildings are of more recent construction; an example is the Rathaus, which is built in Neo-Renaissance style and is the seat of the city and Land governments. Hamburg University (founded in 1919) emphasizes study in foreign languages, economics, geography, ethnology, and international law; the DESY (German Electron-Synchrotron), a particle-physics research centre, is connected with the university. The city has state schools for music, art, and sculpture, as well as several excellent art and special museums, including the Hamburg Art Gallery (founded in 1850). The birthplace of Felix Mendelssohn and Johannes Brahms, Hamburg has a sustained tradition of musical activity that is nurtured by orchestras and by groups specializing in chamber music, choral performances, and church music. The Hamburg State Opera (founded in 1678) has won international fame. Hamburg's port, which has about 40 miles (65 km) of docks and extensive warehousing facilities, handles freight for more than 1,000 destinations. Rail lines link the waterfront to the German railway network, and vast numbers of trucks enter the harbour zone each day. A 10,500-foot (3,200-metre) tunnel under the Elbe River has been completed as part of the Stockholm-Lisbon highway, relieving the city centre of long-distance traffic. Hamburg's international airport is located 8 miles (13 km) to the north in Fuhlsbttel. Area city and Land, 292 square miles (755 square km). Pop. (1995 est.) city and Land, 1,705,872. city and Land (state), located on the Elbe River, northern Germany. It is the country's largest port and commercial centre. The Free and Hanseatic City (Freie und Hansestadt) of Hamburg is the second smallest of the 16 Lnder of Germany, with a territory of only 292 square miles (755 square kilometres). It is also the most populous city in Germany after Berlin and has one of the largest and busiest ports in Europe. The official name, which covers both the Land and the town, reflects Hamburg's long tradition of particularism and self-government. Hamburg and Bremen (the smallest of the Lnder) are, in fact, the only German city-states that still keep something of their medieval independence. The characteristic individuality of Hamburg has been proudly maintained by its people so that, in many spheres of public and private life, the city's culture has retained its uniqueness and has not succumbed to the general trend of standardization. Hamburg, nonetheless, is a cosmopolitan city in its outlook. Although comparatively few foreigners live there, many pass through it. The city has dealings with a large number of nations, and it has more consulates than any other city in the world, except New York City. Shipping and trade have been Hamburg's lifeblood for centuries. Not surprisingly, its harbour has remained the city's most important feature. Among Hamburg's many other facets are a network of canals reminiscent of Amsterdam; lakes, parks, and verdant suburbs full of gracious houses; elegant shopping arcades; richly endowed museums; and a vibrant cultural life. These are among the attractions that have contributed to a growing tourist industry. Although it was badly damaged during World War II, Hamburg has succeeded in maintaining a sense of old-world grace alongside its thriving commercial life. Additional reading Bernhard Meyer-Marwitz, Das Hamburg Buch (1981), a concise and lively book for the general reader; David Rodnick, A Portrait of Two German Cities: Lbeck and Hamburg (1980), the city's history and social conditions; Eckart Klessman, Geschichte der Stadt Hamburg (1981), a comprehensive and detailed study; Heinrich Reincke, Hamburg: Ein Abriss der Stadtgeschichte von den Anfngen bis zur Gegenwart (1926), a historical presentation; Wilson King, Chronicles of Three CitiesHamburg, Bremen, Lbeck (1914), an informative illustrated source; Martin Caidin, The Night Hamburg Died (1960), dealing with the events of World War II; and Volker Plagemann (ed.), Industriekultur in Hamburg (1984), a well-illustrated symposium focussing on social and cultural aspects of the city's industrial history. The architecture of the city is explored in Die Bau- und Kunstdenkmale der Freien und Hansestadt Hamburg, ed. by Gnther Grundman, 3 vol. (195368). Helmuth Thomsen Christopher Angus McIntosh