I.

Introduction

Saarland, state in southwestern Germany, bounded on the north and east by the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, on the south by France, and on the west by France and Luxembourg. The capital and largest city is Saarbrücken. Other major cities are Neunkirchen, Völklingen, Sulzbach, and Dudweiler. Saarland is made up of rolling hills, cut in a southeastern to northwestern direction by the Saar River. The area is 2,570 sq km (992 sq mi); population 1,061,000 (2004 estimate).