Germany is a country in central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea, to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic, to the south by Austria and Switzerland, and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands. Within its borders are a portion of the Alps, the famous Rhine and Danube rivers, and the Black Forest. Its capital is Berlin; some of the governmental institutions, ministries as well as some embassies will remain in the former capital of West Germany, Bonn (now Federal City of Bonn). Germany is a democratic parliamentary federal republic, made up of 16 states (L