Potsdam is the capital and largest city of the German state of Brandenburg. Located approximately 25 kilometres southwest of Berlin's city centre, it serves as an integral part of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region.
The city is situated on the River Havel, a tributary of the Elbe located downstream from Berlin. It is characterized by a hilly morainic landscape that features numerous lakes, with around 20 of these bodies of water situated within the city limits. The name of Potsdam, along with many of its boroughs, is of Slavic origin.