The navel of Europe

Offered without comment.

(AFP) When the EU expands eastward on May 1, its new geographical heart will be 7 degrees 35'50" east longitude, 50 degrees 31'31" north latitude, according to French researchers.

In other words - Kleinmaischeid, in the western state of Rhineland-Palatinate, 12 miles from Koblenz, on the edge of the A3 autobahn near the Cologne-Frankfurt high speed train line.

"We are the navel of Europe," said Horst Rasbach, mayor of the village of just 1,300 residents, happily basking in the sudden attention.