Osterode (district)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Osterode | |
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Map of Lower Saxony highlighting the district Osterode |
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State | Lower Saxony |
County seat | Osterode |
Area | 636 km² |
Population | 83,700 (2003) |
pop. density | 132 inh./km² |
Car identification | OHA |
Web page | http://www.landkreis-osterode.de |
Osterode is a district in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is bounded by (from the southwest and clockwise) the districts of Göttingen, Northeim and Goslar, and by the state of Thuringia (districts of Nordhausen and Eichsfeld).
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[edit] History
This part of the Harz mountains was ruled by the Welfen dynasty from the 12th century on. Osterode was the centre of the Principality of Brunswick-Grubenhagen, one of many small states within Brunswick-Lüneburg. Later this principality became part of Hanover, which in turn fell to Prussia in 1866. In 1885 the Prussian administration established districts, among them Osterode.
[edit] Geography
More than two thirds of the district's area are occupied by the southwestern part of the Harz mountains, including the southern portion of the Harz National Park.
[edit] Coat of arms
The coat of arms displays two heraldic lions. The lion in the upper part is from the arms of Hanover, the lower lion represents the Welfen dynasty.
[edit] Towns and municipalities
Towns | Samtgemeinden |
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¹ including town of the same name |
[edit] External links
- Official website (German)
- Local history
Urban and rural districts in the Federal State of Lower Saxony in Germany |
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Region |
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Urban |
Brunswick | Delmenhorst | Emden | Oldenburg | Osnabrück | Salzgitter | Wilhelmshaven | Wolfsburg |
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Rural |
Ammerland | Aurich | Grafschaft Bentheim | Celle | Cloppenburg | Cuxhaven | Diepholz | Emsland | Friesland | Gifhorn | Goslar | Göttingen | Hamelin-Pyrmont | Harburg | Helmstedt | Hildesheim | Holzminden | Leer | Lüchow-Dannenberg | Lüneburg | Nienburg | Northeim | Oldenburg | Osnabrück | Osterholz | Osterode | Peine | Rotenburg | Schaumburg | Soltau-Fallingbostel | Stade | Uelzen | Vechta | Verden | Wesermarsch | Wittmund | Wolfenbüttel |