Summary
Hochsauerlandkreis (meaning “High Sauerland District” in German) is a Kreis (district) in the east of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Neighboring districts are Soest, Paderborn, Höxter, Waldeck-Frankenberg, Siegen-Wittgenstein, Olpe, Märkischer Kreis.
Hochsauerlandkreis | |
|---|---|
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
 | |
| Country | Germany |
| State | North Rhine-Westphalia |
| Adm. region | Arnsberg |
| Capital | Meschede |
| Government | |
| • District admin. | Karl Schneider (CDU) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,958.71 km2 (756.26 sq mi) |
| Population (31 December 2022)[1] | |
| • Total | 261,647 |
| • Density | 130/km2 (350/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| Vehicle registration | HSK |
| Website | http://www.hochsauerlandkreis.de |
The district is named “High Sauerland” because two of the highest mountains of the Sauerland mountainous landscape, Langenberg and Kahler Asten are in its territory. With 2,766 ft / 843 m (Langenberg) and 2,762 ft / 842 m (Kahler Asten) these are also the highest mountains of North Rhine-Westphalia.
History edit
The district was established in 1975 in the reorganization of the districts in North Rhine-Westphalia by merging the previous districts Arnsberg, Brilon and Meschede.
Geography edit
Geographically the district covers a big part of the Sauerland mountains, including the highest and third highest elevation – the Langenberg near Olsberg with 2,766 ft / 843 m, and the better known Kahler Asten with 2,762 ft / 842 m near Winterberg. These are also the two highest mountains of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Coat of arms edit
The coat of arms was inherited from the former district Arnsberg. It shows the eagle as the symbol of the Earls of Arnsberg. When their county lost independence in 1368 it fell to the bishops of Cologne, thus the sign on the breast of the eagle shows the Cologne cross.
Towns and municipalities edit
| Towns | Municipalities | |
|---|---|---|
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Town twinnings edit
Hochsauerland is twinned with the following areas:
Notable persons edit
- Franz Hoffmeister (died 1943), Roman Catholic priest
Notable places edit
- Abbey Bergkloster, Bestwig [2]
- Abbey Grafschaft, Schmallenberg
- Abbey Königsmünster, Meschede [3]
References edit
- ^ "Bevölkerung der Gemeinden Nordrhein-Westfalens am 31. Dezember 2022 – Fortschreibung des Bevölkerungsstandes auf Basis des Zensus vom 9. Mai 2011" (in German). Landesbetrieb Information und Technik NRW. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
- ^ Herzlich willkommen Bergkloster Bestwig im Hochsauerlandkreis/Nordrhein-Westfalen Archived 2007-10-11 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Anfahrt mit der Bahn". Archived from the original on 2008-11-04. Retrieved 2008-08-02.
External links edit
Media related to Hochsauerlandkreis at Wikimedia Commons
- Official website (in German)
- Touristic website (in German)
51°15′N 8°20′E / 51.25°N 8.33°E