Wittmund (district)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Wittmund | |
|---|---|
 Map of Lower Saxony highlighting the district Wittmund |
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| State | Lower Saxony |
| County seat | Wittmund |
| Adm. region | Weser-Ems |
| Area | 656.65 km² |
| Population | 57,800 (2004) |
| Pop. density | 88 inh./km² |
| Car identification | WTM |
| Web page | http://www.landkreis.wittmund.de/ |
Wittmund is a Kreis (district) in the northwestern part of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated in Ostfriesland ("Eastern Frisia"). Neighboring districts are (from the east clockwise) Friesland, Leer and Aurich.
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[edit] Geography
The district is located at the short to the North Sea. The coastal areas of the mainland are also known as Harlinger Land. The islands of Langeoog and Spiekeroog, both belonging to the East Frisian Islands, are part of this district.
[edit] History
The district was created in 1885 from the Amt Wittmund, the Amt Esens and the city Esens. All were previously part of the district Aurich. In 1977 the district was merged with the district Friesland, which was however not popular. The merger was declared as unconstitutional in 1979, and the two districts were re-established in their old boundaries.
[edit] Partnerships
The district has a partnership with the district Schönebeck in Saxony-Anhalt, which was started with the German reunification in 1990 to help to establish the district administration in former East Germany.
[edit] Coat of arms
| The ship in the coat of arms symbolizes the coastal location of the district. The three sails show heraldic symbols for the district - the front one shows a bear as the symbol of the Attena family from Esens, who ruled in the 14th and 15th century. The legend of the bear saving the city of Esens from its besiegers is associated with Balthasar Oomkens von Esens. The main sail shows two tournament lances as the symbol of the Hero Omken or Hero Oomkens von Esens, taken from the coat of arms of the city Wittmund. The eagle in the rear sail stands for the castle and Amt Friedeburg. |
[edit] Towns and municipalities
| Towns | Samtgemeinden | free municipalities |
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[edit] External links
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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 |
