HESSE

Hesse, or Hessen in German, is a landlocked federal state in central-western Germany. Its capital is Wiesbaden, and its largest city is Frankfurt am Main. The state covers about 21,100 square kilometers and has a population of roughly 6.3 million. It borders Lower Saxony to the north, Thuringia to the east, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg to the south, and Rhineland-Palatinate to the west. The Main river flows through the state, which also includes hills and forested ranges such as the Taunus and the Odenwald.

Historically, the name derives from the Chatti, a Germanic tribe associated with the region. Hesse was later divided into the realms of Hesse-Kassel and Hesse-Darmstadt. After World War II, the American occupation created Greater Hesse, which became the modern state of Hesse in 1949. The region has a rich cultural heritage and was home to notable figures such as the Brothers Grimm in Kassel and Goethe in Frankfurt.

Administratively, Hesse is divided into three Regierungsbezirke: Darmstadt, Gießen, and Kassel. The state parliament (Landtag) sits in Wiesbaden, and the head of government is the Minister-President. The state is a member of the Federal Republic of Germany and participates in national and European affairs.

Economy and infrastructure: Hesse hosts Germany's leading financial center in Frankfurt, home to the European Central Bank, Deutsche Bundesbank, and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The economy also includes manufacturing, chemicals, and technology. The state is home to several universities, including Goethe University Frankfurt, Justus Liebig University in Giessen, and the Technical University of Darmstadt. Major airports, rail networks, and highways connect the region.