Leer (district)
Encyclopedia
Leer is a district
(Landkreis) in Lower Saxony
, Germany
. It is bounded by (from the northwest and clockwise) the city of Emden
, the districts of Aurich
, Wittmund
, Friesland
, Ammerland
, Cloppenburg
and Emsland
, and by the Netherlands
(Province of Groningen
).
was annexed by Prussia
. In 1867, the region was subdivided into districts, and the districts of Leer and Weener were established. In 1932, these two districts were merged.
. The Ems River runs through the District, coming out of the Emsland
in the south and flowing into the Dollart
, a bay of the North Sea
. The island of Borkum
, belonging to the East Frisian Islands
, is also a part of the District. Some of the area of the District is in the Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park.
Unincorporated Area
The uninhabited island Lütje Hörn
is also part of Leer district, but not part of any municipality (unincorporated area
).
Districts of Germany
The districts of Germany are known as , except in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Schleswig-Holstein where they are known simply as ....
(Landkreis) in Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. It is bounded by (from the northwest and clockwise) the city of Emden
Emden
Emden is a city and seaport in the northwest of Germany, on the river Ems. It is the main city of the region of East Frisia; in 2006, the city had a total population of 51,692.-History:...
, the districts of Aurich
Aurich (district)
Aurich is a district in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is bounded by the North Sea, the districts of Wittmund and Leer, and the city of Emden.- History :...
, Wittmund
Wittmund (district)
Wittmund is a Landkreis in the northwestern part of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated in East Frisia, on the North Sea coast. Neighboring districts are Friesland, Leer and Aurich.-Geography:...
, Friesland
Friesland (district)
Friesland is a district in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is bounded by the districts of Wesermarsch, Ammerland, Leer and Wittmund, and by the North Sea...
, Ammerland
Ammerland
Ammerland is a district in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is bounded by the city of Oldenburg and the districts of Oldenburg, Cloppenburg, Leer, Friesland and Wesermarsch.- History :...
, Cloppenburg
Cloppenburg (district)
Cloppenburg is a district in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is bounded by the districts of Ammerland, Oldenburg, Vechta, Osnabrück, Emsland and Leer....
and Emsland
Emsland
Landkreis Emsland is a district in Lower Saxony, Germany named after the river Ems. It is bounded by the districts of Leer, Cloppenburg and Osnabrück, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia , the district of Bentheim and the Netherlands .- History :For a long time the region of the Emsland was...
, and by the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
(Province of Groningen
Groningen (province)
Groningen [] is the northeasternmost province of the Netherlands. In the east it borders the German state of Niedersachsen , in the south Drenthe, in the west Friesland and in the north the Wadden Sea...
).
History
In 1744, East FrisiaEast Frisia
East Frisia or Eastern Friesland is a coastal region in the northwest of the German federal state of Lower Saxony....
was annexed by Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
. In 1867, the region was subdivided into districts, and the districts of Leer and Weener were established. In 1932, these two districts were merged.
Geography
The District is located in the southern part of East FrisiaEast Frisia
East Frisia or Eastern Friesland is a coastal region in the northwest of the German federal state of Lower Saxony....
. The Ems River runs through the District, coming out of the Emsland
Emsland
Landkreis Emsland is a district in Lower Saxony, Germany named after the river Ems. It is bounded by the districts of Leer, Cloppenburg and Osnabrück, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia , the district of Bentheim and the Netherlands .- History :For a long time the region of the Emsland was...
in the south and flowing into the Dollart
Dollart
The Dollart is a bay between northern Netherlands and Germany, on the west side of the estuary of the Ems river. Most of it dries at low tide. Many water birds feed there.- Gaining from and losing to the sea :...
, a bay of the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
. The island of Borkum
Borkum
Borkum is an island and a municipality in the Leer District in Lower Saxony, northwestern Germany.-Geography:Borkum is bordered to the west by the Westerems strait , to the east by the Osterems strait, to the north by the North Sea, and to the south by the Wadden Sea...
, belonging to the East Frisian Islands
East Frisian Islands
The East Frisian Islands are a chain of islands in the North Sea, off the coast of East Frisia in Lower Saxony, Germany. The islands extend for some from west to east between the mouths of the Ems and Jade / Weser rivers and lie about 3.5 to 10 km offshore...
, is also a part of the District. Some of the area of the District is in the Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park.
Coat-of-arms
 |
The coat-of-arms is identical to the arms of the East Frisian chieftain dynasty Ukena, rulers of the area during the 15th century. Its blazon Blazon In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image... is: "Arms: Azure, a lion Lion The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger... rampant dexter-facing Argent armed and langued Gules, collar Collar (animal) An animal collar is a device that attached to the neck of an animal to allow it to be harnessed, tied up or for various other reasons.*Pet collar. A piece of material put around the neck of certain pet animals, such as dogs or cats, for control, identification, or other purposes. Identification... ed by a wreath Wreath A wreath is an assortment of flowers, leaves, fruits, twigs and/or various materials that is constructed to resemble a ring. They are used typically as Christmas decorations to symbolize the coming of Christ, also known as the Advent season in Christianity. They are also used as festive headdresses... of leaves Leaf A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants.... proper. Crown: two plumes of wheat Wheat Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice... Vert divided by a four-leaf clover Four-leaf clover The four-leaf clover is an uncommon variation of the common, three-leaved clover. According to tradition, such leaves bring good luck to their finders, especially if found accidentally... proper at center." |
Cities and municipalities
| Cities | Samtgemeinden |
|---|---|
Free municipalities
|
Brinkum Brinkum is a municipality in the district of Leer, in Lower Saxony, Germany.... Firrel Firrel is a municipality in the district of Leer, in Lower Saxony, Germany.... Hesel Hesel is a municipality in Leer district. It is situated approx. northeast of Leer, and east of Emden.Hesel is also the seat of the Samtgemeinde Hesel.... 1 Holtland Holtland is a municipality in the district of Leer, in Lower Saxony, Germany.... Neukamperfehn Neukamperfehn is a municipality in the district of Leer, in Lower Saxony, Germany.... Schwerinsdorf Schwerinsdorf is a municipality in the district of Leer, in Lower Saxony, Germany....
Detern Detern is a municipality in the district of Leer, in Lower Saxony, Germany.The Battle of Detern was fought here in 1426.... Filsum Filsum is a small municipality in the Leer district, in the North West of Germany.The municipality lies approximately 30 km from the Netherlands border, and 50 km from where the coast meets the North Sea.... 1 Nortmoor Nortmoor is a municipality in the district of Leer, in Lower Saxony, Germany.... |
| |align=center|1seat of the Samtgemeinde |
Unincorporated Area
The uninhabited island Lütje Hörn
Lütje Hörn
Lütje Hörn is an uninhabited East Frisian Island in the North Sea. It belongs to Germany and is located approximately 3 to 4 kilometres southeast of Borkum in the East Frisian Randzelwatt. Lütje Hörn is an unincorporated area of Leer district in Lower Saxony....
is also part of Leer district, but not part of any municipality (unincorporated area
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
).