Rahden-Diepenau Geest
Encyclopedia
The Rahden-Diepenau Geest is a natural region
in the extreme northeast of North Rhine-Westphalia
and in the neighbouring state of Lower Saxony
in north Germany
. It includes the overwhelmingly gently rolling geest
between the Lübbecker Lößland to the south, the Diepholz Moor Depression to the north, the Middle Weser Valley
to the east and the western Wiehen Hills and Bersenbrück Land to the west. The Rahden-Diepenau Geest is part of the Dümmer Geest Depression and thus belongs to the North German Plain
, although they include foothills of the Central Uplands
in the shape of the Stemmer Berge.
, the municipalities of Espelkamp
, and most of Rahden
and Stemwede
as well as part of Hille
and Petershagen
lie within this region.
In the Lower Saxon district of Nienburg the region contains most of the municipalities of Diepenau
and Warmsen
and smaller elements of Raddestorf
, and in the district of Osnabrück, most of Bohmte
lies within the geest region.
Natural region
A Natural region is one which is distinguished by its natural features of geography and usually more important, geology. The natural ecology of the region is likely to be significant but one of these factors tends to influence the others....
in the extreme northeast of North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
and in the neighbouring state of 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...
in north 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 includes the overwhelmingly gently rolling geest
Geest (topography)
Geest is a type of slightly raised landscape that occurs in the plains of in Northern Germany, the Northern Netherlands and Denmark. It is a landscape of sandy and gravelly soils, usually mantled by a heathland vegetation, comprising glacial deposits left behind after the last ice age during the...
between the Lübbecker Lößland to the south, the Diepholz Moor Depression to the north, the Middle Weser Valley
Middle Weser Valley
The Middle Weser Valley is part of the Weser Depression around the River Weser on the North German Plain, extending from the gap of Porta Westfalica to the town of Hoya. It is not a true valley, because it is only bordered by low hills at two points...
to the east and the western Wiehen Hills and Bersenbrück Land to the west. The Rahden-Diepenau Geest is part of the Dümmer Geest Depression and thus belongs to the North German Plain
North German plain
The North German Plain or Northern Lowland is one of the major geographical regions of Germany. It is the German part of the North European Plain...
, although they include foothills of the Central Uplands
Central Uplands
The Central Uplands is one of the three major natural regions of Germany and covers most of the land area of the country. To the north lies the North German Plain or Northern Lowland; to the south, the Alps and the Alpine Foreland.- Formation :...
in the shape of the Stemmer Berge.
Political divisions
In the North Rhine-Westphalian district of Minden-LübbeckeMinden-Lübbecke
Minden-Lübbecke is a Kreis in the northeastern part of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Neighboring districts are Diepholz, Nienburg, Schaumburg, Lippe, Herford, Osnabrück.-Geography:...
, the municipalities of Espelkamp
Espelkamp
Espelkamp is a town in the Minden-Lübbecke district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:Espelkamp is situated approximately 10 kilometers north of Lübbecke and 20 kilometers north-west of Minden.-Neighbouring places:-Division of the town:...
, and most of Rahden
Rahden
Rahden is a town in the Minden-Lübbecke district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:Rahden is situated approx. 15 km north of Lübbecke and 25 km north-west of Minden...
and Stemwede
Stemwede
Stemwede is a municipality in the Minden-Lübbecke district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Division of the town:The municipality of Stemwede is divided into 3 districts :-External links:*...
as well as part of Hille
Hille
Hille is a community in the Kreis Minden-Lübbecke in the north of East Westphalia, Germany, with approximately 16,000 inhabitants. It was created in 1973 in the framework of the community restructuring of North Rhine-Westphalia through the combining of nine communities of the Minden countryside. ...
and Petershagen
Petershagen
Petershagen is a town in the Minden-Lübbecke district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:Petershagen is situated on the river Weser, approx...
lie within this region.
In the Lower Saxon district of Nienburg the region contains most of the municipalities of Diepenau
Diepenau
Diepenau is a municipality in the district of Nienburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany....
and Warmsen
Warmsen
Warmsen is a municipality in the district of Nienburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany....
and smaller elements of Raddestorf
Raddestorf
Raddestorf is a municipality in the district of Nienburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany....
, and in the district of Osnabrück, most of Bohmte
Bohmte
Bohmte is a municipality in the district of Osnabrück, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the river Hunte, approx. 20 km northeast of Osnabrück...
lies within the geest region.
Source
- Meynen, Emil (Ed.): Handbuch der naturräumlichen Gliederung Deutschlands. Selbstverlag der Bundesanstalt für Landeskunde, Remagen 1959-1962 (Teil 2, enthält Lieferung 6-9).