Bentheim
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Grafschaft Bentheim | |
|---|---|
 Map of Lower Saxony highlighting the district Grafschaft Bentheim |
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| State | Lower Saxony |
| County seat | Nordhorn |
| Adm. region | Weser-Ems |
| Area | 981 km² |
| Population | 133,300 (2004) |
| Pop. density | 136 inh./km² |
| Car identification | NOH |
| Web page | http://www.grafschaft.de |
Bentheim (German: Grafschaft Bentheim; English: County of Bentheim) is a district in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is bounded by (from the west and clockwise) the Dutch provinces Overijssel and Drenthe, the district of Emsland, and the districts Steinfurt and Borken in North Rhine-Westphalia.
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[edit] History
Main article: County of Bentheim
Bentheim was a small medieval county. The district was once full of fens, just as the neighbouring Emsland. The small Vechte river offered the opportunity to found settlements along the banks. Bentheim became an earldom as early as 1050. In the following centuries it became a regional power by annexing the neighbouring earldoms of Steinfurt and Tecklenburg. Sandstone was the major export article in medieval times, ensuring the wealth of the earldom.
[edit] Geography
The small district of Bentheim is protruding into Dutch territory. The Vechte River (Dutch Vecht) crosses the district from south to north and leaves to the Netherlands. All major towns are situated along that river.
The district is roughly identical with the medieval earldom of Bentheim, but excluding Steinfurt and Tecklenburg.
[edit] Coat of arms
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The arms are identical to the arms of the medieval earldom of Bentheim. The origin of these arms is unknown. |
[edit] Towns and municipalities
| Towns | Samtgemeinden | Free municipalities |
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¹ including town of the same name
[edit] External link
- Official website (German)
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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 |
