Blog: Hamburg and the Northern Sea Route | Alaska Dispatch
▻http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/20140625/hamburg-and-northern-sea-route
The port city of Hamburg, Germany, actually lies 80 miles inland from the North Sea.
Despite this distance, it has been an important maritime trading hub for centuries, thanks to the wide Elbe River, which flows out to the sea, and its many waterways. The glory days of the Hanseatic League are still reflected in the official name of Hamburg, which is a city-state: Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. German reunification after the dissolution of the Soviet Union resulted in the reestablishment of trade ties with central and Eastern Europe along the Elbe, positioning the port for success in the 21st century. Now, Hamburg is also well-positioned to take advantage of advances in Arctic shipping, especially along the Northern Sea Route.