Hamburg, an important port city in northern Germany, is connected to the North Sea by the river Elbe. It is crossed by hundreds of channels and also features large park areas. Near its center, Lake Binnenalster is full of boats and surrounded by cafes. The central street of the city, Jungfernstieg, connects Neustadt (new city) with Altstad (old city), which houses monuments like the Church of São Miguel, from the 18th century.