Germany is a Western European country with a landscape of forests, rivers, mountain ranges and North Sea beaches. It has over 2 millennia of history. Berlin, its capital, is home to art and nightlife scenes, the Brandenburg Gate and many sites relating to WWII. Munich is known for its Oktoberfest and beer halls, including the 16th-century Hofbräuhaus. Frankfurt, with its skyscrapers, houses the European Central Bank.
Climate
Germany has a mild climate, largely because the land is near the sea. In winter, the sea is not as cold as the land. In summer, it is not as warm. As a result, west winds from the sea help warm Germany in winter and cool it in summer. Away from the sea, in southern areas, winters are colder and summers are warmer. The average temperature in January, the coldest month in Germany, is above 30 °F (-1 °C). Whilst in July, the hottest month in Germany, the temperature averages about 64 °F (18 °C).
