Thuringia (English:; German: Thüringen [ˈtyːʁɪŋən] (pay attention)), formally the Free State of Thuringia (Freistaat Thüringen [ˈfʁaɪʃtaːt ˈtyːʁɪŋən], is a state of Germany. Situated in central Germany, it covers 16,171 square kilometres (6,244 sq mi), being the 6th smallest of the 16 German States (consisting of City States). It has a populace of about 2.1 million.Erfurt is the state resources and largest city. Other cities are Jena, Gera as well as Weimar. Thuringia is surrounded by Bavaria, Hesse, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and also Saxony. It has actually been referred to as the eco-friendly heart of Germany (das grüne Herz Deutschlands) from the late 19th century due to its broad, thick woodland. A lot of Thuringia is in the Saale water drainage basin, a left-bank tributary of the Elbe. Thuringia is residence to the Rennsteig, Germany's best-known treking path. Its winter months hotel of Oberhof makes it a well-appointed winter sports destination-- half of Germany's 136 ...