Gera is a city located in the German state of Thuringia. With a population of approximately 93,000 inhabitants, it serves as the third-largest city in the state, following Erfurt and Jena. It is situated in the East Thuringian Hill Country within the wide valley of the White Elster river, positioned between the cities of Greiz and Leipzig.
The city is the largest urban center in the Vogtland region and is recognized as one of its historical capitals, alongside Plauen, Greiz, and Weida. Geographically, Gera marks the easternmost point of the Thüringer Städtekette, a linear string of six major Thuringian cities extending from Eisenach in the west to Gera in the east.
Gera is located within the Central German Metropolitan Region. It sits roughly 60 kilometres south of Leipzig, 80 km east of Erfurt, 120 km west of Dresden, and 90 km north of Hof (Saale).