Hamburg, official name “Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg” (Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg) 2nd largest German city (2004 pop. 1.740 000) and capital of Hamburg State (746 sq km), N-Germany, on the Elbe River near the North Sea, and on the River Alster. Hamburg is major economic and industrial centre of Germany. It has the No.8 biggest container port in the world (Dubai follow on place 12), and is the nation's busiest port. Manufactures include copper, vegetable and mineral oils, machinery, electro technical goods, and cigarettes. Its harbour handles approximately one half of Germany's imports (foodstuffs, tea, coffee, and petroleum) and exports (machinery, processed petroleum, copper, and pharmaceuticals).

Hamburg is also known for its leading hospitals (e.g. the University Hospital Eppendorf).

Hamburg websites: www.international.hamburg.de, www.hafen-hamburg.de.