Hamburg is a major North German port city connected to the North Sea by the Elbe River. The city is crisscrossed by hundreds of canals, some of which are called Fleete, and also has extensive park and green areas. Boats sail on the Binnenalster near the center, and numerous cafés are located around the reservoir. The Jungfernstieg connects the New Town with the Old Town, where landmarks such as the main church of St. Michaelis from the 18th century are located.
With a population of around 1.85 million, Hamburg is Germany’s second-largest city and the third-largest in the German-speaking world.