Saxony is one of the 16 German federal states and is located in the east of Germany. It borders the federal states of Bavaria, Thuringia, Brandenburg and Saxony-Anhalt. Saxony also has German borders with Poland and the Czech Republic. This neighbourhood also has a strong influence on language, culture and food. The capital of Saxony is Dresden.
The landscape of Saxony is very diverse. It offers mountains such as the Erzgebirge and the Elbe Sandstone Mountains as well as green plains such as Lusatia and large forests. The river Elbe flows through the middle of Saxony to the north-west. There are also several lakes in the heart of Saxony. The beauty of the landscape is protected by various nature parks. Many famous painters have depicted Saxony's beauty, such as the painter Canaletto's view of Dresden and Caspar David Friedrich's view of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. The climate in Saxony is temperate and pleasant, but winters are colder than in the rest of Germany due to its proximity to the east.