Rostock, << ROS tok >> (pop. 200,265), is a German seaport and industrial center on the Baltic Sea. The city lies at the mouth of the Warnow River and has been an important shipping point for hundreds of years. It is the port of entry for much of Germany’s petroleum supplies. Rostock’s industries produce machinery, motors, container ships, and cargo ships. Warnemunde, a suburb north of the city, is a seaside resort with white sand beaches.
Rostock was chartered in 1218. The city was a member of the Hanseatic League in the Middle Ages (see Hanseatic League ). The University of Rostock was founded in 1419.
