Location, area, geographical data
Location
Dresden is situated in the south-eastern part of the Free State of Saxony, which borders not only on other German regions (Bavaria, Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt and Brandenburg), but also on the Czech Republic and Poland. The city lies in a marked widening of the Elbe valley. The foothills of the Eastern Erzgebirge Mountains, the Lusatian Granite Uplands and the Elbe Sandstone Mountains characterise the delightful surroundings of the Saxon capital.
Area
In terms of area, Dresden is the fourth-largest city in Germany after Berlin, Hamburg and Cologne.
- Total area: 328.30 km2 (32,830 ha), of which
- built-up areas and associated open spaces: 8,134 ha
- areas for industrial and municipal purposes: 239 ha
- recreation areas: 1,110 ha
- traffic areas: 3,165 ha
- agriculture: 11,535 ha
- forested areas: 7.159 ha
- waterways and lakes: 649 ha
- other areas: 839 ha
(Figures as per 31st December 2005.)
Geographical data
- Latitude: 51° 02' 55" N
- Longitude: 13° 44' 29" E
- Altitude (River Elbe): 102.73 m a.s.l.
- City centre (Altmarkt): 113 m a.s.l.
- Highest point (Triebenberg): 383 m a.s.l.
- Lowest point (Cossebaude): 101 m a.s.l.
- Length of city boundary: 134 km
- Length of River Elbe within city boundary: 30 km
- Bridges within city boundary: 8