End of an era: A look back at Merkel's most memorable moments

On November 22, 2005, Angela Merkel became the first woman and the first person from the former East Germany to be sworn in as German chancellor. The ceremony was conducted by Norbert Lammert, president of the German parliament, the Bundestag. At the time, no one could have foreseen that she would stay in power for the next 16 years.

This photo is hard to forget. During a trip to Russia in 2017, a stoic-looking Merkel didn’t flinch when President Vladmir Putin's dog came up to sniff her. It was believed to be a deliberate provocation, since Merkel is reportedly afraid of dogs, having once been bitten.

Merkel's selfie with the young refugee, Anas Modamani from Syria, went around the world. When Merkel visited the refugee shelter, Modamai reportedly didn't know who she was at first. Later, the photo became one of the iconic images for Merkel's "Wir schaffen das" or "we can do it" statement regarding her 2015 policy of taking in refugees.

Merkel's chancellorship has been marked by several turbulent political meetings on the world stage, like here during the G7 summit in Canada in 2018. The image made headlines around the world. Could Merkel be explaining to US President Trump how things should be done?

Dealing with President Trump wasn't easy for the German chancellor. During a visit to the United States in 2017, Merkel's annoyance at the American leader's behavior was plain to see. There was much speculation about whether he really did refuse to shake her hand on camera. Merkel, ever the professional, spoke afterwards about a "good and open exchange."

As a female leader, Merkel inevitably had to deal with comments about her outfits. During a 2008 visit to the opera in Oslo, she wore a gown with a plunging neckline, sparking such debate that her spokesman eventually had to address the issue. After that, Merkel mainly opted for blazers and trousers, which even found favor with fashion designer Giorgio Armani.

Not much is known about Merkel's private life, except perhaps her love of hiking. In 2012 she was snapped with her husband, Joachim Sauer, on the Italian island of Ischia. Merkel once said that she can switch off during walks.

Though she's normally considered to be quite reserved, Merkel was unrestrained in her joy as she cheered the German soccer team when they scored during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. According to a close aide, she's a fan of the star German Bundesliga club, FC Bayern Munich.

Merkel's habit of clasping her hands in front of her stomach, thumbs and fingertips touching to form a diamond shape, became her trademark. The "Merkel rhombus" was not only used in the 2013 election campaign, but even got its own emoji. Olaf Scholz, the Social Democrat’s chancellor candidate in the 2021 election, even adopted the famous gesture.

With its red blazer, beaded necklace in the colors of the German flag, blonde wig and Merkel rhombus, this teddy bear is instantly recognizable. The Angela Merkel teddy was created by a family-owned toy manufacturer in Coburg, central Germany. The 500 stuffed animals were quickly sold out, but one of them is still to be presented to the departing chancellor.