Kiel, State capital on Baltic Sea coast in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
Kiel is the state capital of Schleswig-Holstein on the Baltic Sea coast, positioned at the inner end of a long fjord. The waterway reaches deep into the urban area and forms a natural harbor that handles cargo vessels, ferries, and ocean liners throughout the year.
The settlement was founded in 1242 by Count Adolf IV of Holstein, who granted it town privileges. During the 19th century it became the main German naval base and gained a central role in European shipping with the opening of the canal.
Sailing culture defines everyday life here, with locals taking boats out on the fjord most weekends when weather permits. The harbor area fills with maritime workers, naval personnel, and sailing enthusiasts who gather in shipyard cafés and fish restaurants along the waterfront.
The main train station sits in the center and offers connections to Hamburg in about 90 minutes. Several ferry terminals line the fjord, linking the city with Scandinavian ports, and most of the harbor district can be explored on foot.
The canal connecting the Baltic with the North Sea spans 98 kilometers (61 miles) and ranks among the most frequented waterways on earth. Roughly 32,000 commercial ships pass through each year, bypassing the long detour around Denmark through the Skagerrak and Kattegat straits.
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