Named for the district in Germany around Berlin {see planet  (422)}. The medieval capital of this region was the town of Brandenburg, and the current capital is Potsdam {see planet  (5816)}. Brandenburg is a region with many lakes, waterways and pine forests. The poets Th. Fontane {see planet  (8667)} and H. von Kleist, the scientist W. von Humboldt and the architect K. Fr. Schinkel {see planet  (5297)} were all born in the region. Six well-known compositions by J. S. Bach {see planet  (1814)} have the title Brandenburgische Konzerte. (M 24919) _ _.