Hamburg

Administrative region (German Land) in northern Germany, situated between Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony; area 755 sq km/292 sq mi; population (2003 est) 1,686,100. The capital is Hamburg. The boundaries of the region coincide with those laid down 1937-38 when the territory of the Free Hanse town was reorganized, the enclave of Cuxhaven being exchanged for three urban districts (Altona, Harburg, and Wandsbek) and 27 rural districts belonging to Prussia.

Economy The main industries are oil refining, chemicals, electrical goods, marine engineering, ship repairing, food processing, printing, and publishing. The area is mostly urban, but small parts of fenland are used for dairying and apple orchards.

Features Hamburg has four universities (the earliest was established in 1919). The Hamburg Schauspielhaus is one of Germany's leading theatres.

History Hamburg was reputedly founded by Charlemagne in the early 9th century. A trading league formed with Lübeck in 1241 developed into the Hanseatic League, with influence throughout the North Sea and Baltic coastal regions, and along the rivers well into the German lands. In 1510 the Emperor Maximilian I made Hamburg a free imperial city, and in 1871 it became a state of the German Empire.