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Duisburg ) in North Rhine-Westphalia. It is an independent metropolitan borough within Regierungsbezirk Düsseldorf. The harbour of Duisburg is the largest inland port in Europe. There is a university in the city which merged with the University of Essen in 2003 to form the University of Duisburg-Essen.

Today's city is, as is the case with all big cities in Germany, a result of numerous incorporations of surrounding towns and smaller cities. At the beginning of the 20th century the city surpassed the 100,000 limit. Today it is the 12th-largest city in Germany and the fifth city in North Rhine-Westphalia with 506,496 residents (as of 31 December 2003). The city is renowned for its steel industry. There is still one coal mine in operation, but Duisburg has never been a coal-mining location to the same extent as the other places in the Ruhr. All blast furnaces in the Ruhr are now located in Duisburg. 49% of all hot metal and 34.4% of all crude steel in Germany is produced here (status 2000).

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Duisburg is located in the Lowland Rhine area at the confluence of the Rhine and Ruhr rivers and at the outskirts of the Bergisches Land. The city spreads along both sides of these rivers.

The following cities border Duisburg (clockwise starting from north-east):

Oberhausen, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Ratingen, Düsseldorf, Krefeld, Moers, Rheinberg and Dinslaken

Latest archaeological studies show that today's market-place was already in use in the 1st century AD. It has been the major central trading place of the city since the 5th century. The city itself was located at the "Hellweg", an important medieval trade route, and at a ford across the River Rhine. The Romans already guarded the ford.

Due to the town's favourable geographic position a palatinate was built and the town was soon granted the royal charter of a free city. Duisburg became a member of the Hanseatic League. Around 1000 the river Rhine moved westward from the city. This put an end to the city's development as a trading town and it soon grew into a quiet rural city. The productions of cartographer Gerardus Mercator and the foundation of a university in 1655 established the city's renown as "Educated Duisburg" ("Duisburgum Doctum").

The rise of tobacco and textile industries in the 18th century made Duisburg an industrial center. Big industrial companies such as iron and steel producing firms (Thyssen and Krupp) influenced the development of the city. Large housing areas near production sites were being built as workers and their families moved in.

1824 construction of the sulfuric acid factory Fr. W. Curtius. Beginning of the industry age in Duisburg.1921 French Infantry occupy the city on 8th March to secure war reparation payments incurred during World War I.

A major logistical center in the Ruhr and location of chemical, steel and iron industries, Duisburg was a primary target of Allied bombers. Not only the industrial areas but also residential areas were attacked by Allied bombs. As an entry to the Ruhr, there were daily warnings of bombing raids in 1943.

October 15 this amount was doubled when 1005 Halifax, Lancaster and Mosquito bombers appeared over Duisburg. Numerous similar attacks follow.1945 The city has under artillery barrage from 3 April 1945. On 12 April 1945 military units of the U.S. 9th Army enter Duisburg. On May 8, 1945 the ADSEC Engineer Group A, led by Col. Helmer Swenholdt, commanding officer of the 332nd Engineer General Service Regiment, constructed a railroad bridge between Duisburg and Rheinhausen across the Rhine River. This bridge was 2,815 feet (0.86 km) long, and constructed in six days, fifteen hours and twenty minutes, a record time. This Bridge was named the Victory Bridge.

A total of 299 bombing raids had almost completely destroyed the historic cityscape. 80% of all residential buildings had been destroyed or partly damaged. Almost the whole of the city had to be rebuilt, and most historic landmarks had been lost.

2004 On 19 July Duisburg was hit by a tornado. The municipal theatre and parts of the city center were damaged.

"Duisport" [1] is the largest inland port in Europe. It is officially regarded as a "seaport" because sea-going river vessels go to ports in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Numerous docks are mostly located at the mouth of River Ruhr.

Each year more than 40 million tonnes of various goods are handled with more than 20,000 ships calling at the port. The public harbor facilities stretch across an area of 7.4 km². There are 21 docks covering an area of 1.8 km² and 40 km of wharf. The area of the Logport Logistic Center Duisburg stretches across an area of 2.65 km². A number of companies run their own private docks and 70 million tonnes of goods yearly are handled in Duisburg on average.

). Five such roads extend through the city area or pass it. In addition there is the inter-urban 'S-Bahn' (railway) line connecting Duisburg with other cities of the Ruhr and Rhine area. An underground railway ('U-Bahn') and a bus system make for a good city transportation.

There are several newspapers reporting on local events and politics, including the "Westdeutsche Allgemeine" (WAZ), the "Neue Ruhr Zeitung" (NRZ) and the "Rheinische Post" (RP).

There is a local TV station ("STUDIO 47"), which was the first local station to broadcast in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Duisburg hosts a comprehensive range of cultural facilities and events. A highlight is the annual "Duisburger Akzente" [2], a festival focusing on modern social, political and cultural topics.

Besides Düsseldorf Duisburg is a residence of the Deutsche Oper am Rhein, one of the major opera houses in Germany. The Duisburg Philharmonic Orchestra is one of Germany's orchestras with an international reputation.

Thanks to its history as a harbor city and a trade and industrial center Duisburg offers a variety of architectural places of interest. The spectrum goes from old churches such as "St Johann Baptist" in Duisburg-Hamborn, which was built in 900, to modern age buildings like Micro-Electronic-Centrum in Duisburg-Neudorf, built in 1995.

Another subject of interest is the Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord [3] an abandoned industrial complex open to the public.

The city center locates the Wilhelm Lehmbruck Museum [4], the municipal theatre [5] and the shopping street known as "fountain mile".

Duisburg is home to the MSV Duisburg soccer team. The team plays currently in the first Bundesliga. The MSV was one of the constitutional members of the Bundesliga in 196364. One of the best-known players to have played for the club is Helmut Rahn.

Duisburg is also known for its rowing- and canoeing regattas and the world championships that take place here regularly.