Osterode (district)

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Osterode

Map of Lower Saxony highlighting the district of Osterode
State Lower Saxony
District seat Osterode
Area 636 km²
Population 83,700 (2003)
Pop. density 132 /km²
Licence plate code OHA
Web page http://www.landkreis-osterode.de

Osterode (IPA: [ɔstəˈʁoːdə]) 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).

Contents

[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 the Kingdom of 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
  1. Bad Lauterberg
  2. Bad Sachsa
  3. Herzberg am Harz
  4. Osterode am Harz
  1. Bad Grund2
  2. Badenhausen
  3. Eisdorf
  4. Gittelde
  5. Windhausen1
  1. Elbingerode
  2. Hattorf am Harz1
  3. Hörden am Harz
  4. Wulften am Harz
  1. Walkenried1
  2. Wieda
  3. Zorge
1seat of the Samtgemeinde

[edit] External links

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