Cologne is the fourth largest city in Germany and the capital of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The Rhine forms the city's natural boundaries, and it is an important inland port. Today, Cologne is the economic, cultural, and historical center of the Rhineland. Its population is 989,766. The city's skyline is dominated by the cathedral, which has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The state government was originally based in Koblenz, but there were too few buildings for a permanent state capital. In September 1946, the state's Provisional State Assembly met in Mainz, and a draft constitution was drafted. The French military government nominated Wilhelm Boden to lead the newly established state, and he was elected to be its first minister president. In the following years, he would be replaced by Peter Altmeier, who would continue to serve in that role.
The state of Missouri has a low rate of earthquake activity, but the Rhineland region experiences a higher incidence of tornadoes than the national average. In 2006, a category F3 tornado injured a person and caused between $500,000 and $5,000,000 in damages. In 1956, an F4 tornado killed six people and injured 35 in Rhineland, causing between $500,000 and $5 million in damages. In addition, Rhineland has significantly higher seismic activity than Missouri, with six large quakes recorded, and more than 500 earthquakes over the last century.