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View of the city of Brandenburg from above. Photo courtesy of Nancy Grimm
After a brief hiatus, the Files takes you back to the Quiz series on the 16 German States and to the next candidate: the state of Brandenburg. Located in the eastern part of Germany, where Potsdam and Berlin are located, Brandenburg is perhaps one of the greenest states in Germany, joining the ranks of Mecklenburg Pommerania, Hesse, Thuringia and Saxony. This is in part because of the combination of forests, natural landscapes and wildlife that cover about half the state, mostly in the northern and western parts. The state also has the largest mass of water in the country, with over 33,000 kilometers of river and canals plus 3000 bodies of water, including 860 lakes. Both account for almost a fourth of the number of lakes found in Minnesota, the author’s homestate, where 11,800 lakes and over 111,000 km of rivers and streams exist. Yet while Minnesota can pride itself with its Winter Palace, the state of Brandenburg can also pride itself with its share of palaces and churches . Yet there is more to the state than just that, especially as it is the main attraction of this year’s German Garden and Horticulture Show (short: BUGA). For those wanting to visit Brandenburg for that purpose or for a vacation, perhaps a small Guessing Quiz will both test your knowledge of the state as of now, but also get you more interested and acquainted with the state. Without further ado, here is the challenge for you to take:
1. Which city is the capital of Brandenburg?
a. Potsdam b. Burg c. Brandenburg/Havel d. Neubrandenburg e. Frankfurt
2. Rank the following cities from most populated to least populated.
Bernau Rathenow Prenzlau Neuruppin Frankfurt Cottbus Werder Senftenberg Brandenburg/Havel Eberswald Falkensee Potsdam Görlitz Oranienburg Schwedt
3. Apart from German, which language is also spoken in Brandenburg? (Hint: Cottbus is known as Chosébuz; Lausitz means Luzyca)
a. Czech b. Polish c. Hungarian d. Danish e. Sorbian f. Slovakian
4. Which states border Brandenburg? Mark all that apply.
Lower Saxony Mecklenburg-Pommerania Thuringia Saxony Hesse Saxony-Anhalt Schleswig-Holstein Berlin Hamburg
5. How many districts and independent cities exist in Brandenburg?
6. Which rivers are NOT found in Brandenburg? Mark all that apply.
Elbe Elster Spree Havel Saale Ucker Trave Oder Neisse
7. Before 1947, the state of Brandenburg was once known as the Margraviate, going by the name of ___________ Brandenburg.
a. Marge b. Jim c. Marcus d. Ulla e. Mark f. Maik g. Mork h. Paul
8. In reference to this Margraviate, the kingdom goes as far back as which century?
a. 10th b. 12th c. 16th d. 18th e. 19th
9. Berlin is part of the state of Brandenburg. True or False?
10. A German women’s soccer team is the only team from Brandenburg that is in the premier league of a sport. True or False?
11. The origin of Frankfurt is Vrankenforde and applies to this city on the Oder River as well as the city on the River Main in Hesse. True or false?
12. Jim Brandenburg, a world-renowned nature photographer from Minnesota, once visited and photographed the flora and fauna in the state of Brandenburg. True or false?
13. The German motion picture studios, where most of the films are made, can be found in Brandenburg. True or false? Name the city where you will find most of the action.
14. The annual Festival of Lights, where the castle and the grounds are lit up and musical concerts draw in a crowd of 40,000 visitors, is held at the Sanssouci Palace, which is located in this city?
15. The Brandenburger Klostersommer festival, which takes place every June and July, features music, art exhibits and other events taking place in which churches in Brandenburg? Name two of them.
16. Which of the local beers will you find in Brandenburg?
a. Beck’s b. Wusterhausen c. Kneipe Pur d. Potsdamer Weise e. Red Elephant
17. Brandenburg is famous for its pickles, which can be found in this region? (Hint, this region has been declared a biosphere and listed by UNESCO since 1990).
18. During the days of Communism, Brandenburg was dependent on two key commodities, one of which is still in use today. Choose from the list below:
Mining Tobacco Agriculture Fishing Nuclear Power Tourism
19. Which of the lakes in Brandenburg is the largest and where is it located?
20. There are 82 castles and palaces in the state of Brandenburg. Identify the following below:
a. Altogether (2 of them)
b. Potsdam (3 of them but NOT counting Sanssouci)
c. Spreewald (1)
d. Elbe/Elster District (2 of them)
21. How many churches will you find in Brandenburg with the exception of Potsdam and Cottbus? Estimate your numbers in tens.
22. Which bridge in Brandenburg is famous for its spy exchange during the Cold War? (Note: It is one of many that existed along the Berlin Wall before 1989 and is still in use today).
23. Which city has the highest number of bridges?
a. Potsdam b. Brandenburg c. Cottbus d. Frankfurt e. Görlitz f. Prenzlau
24. The Glienicke Bridge in Potsdam and the Seegarten Bridge in Brandenburg/Havel are the only two cantilever bridges left in the state that carry the same truss design. True or False?
25. Name two existing bridges along the Oder that are older than 75 years.
Have fun taking the challenge. An answer sheet with some interesting facts will follow. Good luck! Image may be NSFW.
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Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.