Nordhausen (district)


Nordhausen is a Kreis in the north of Thuringia, Germany. Neighboring districts are : Harz and Mansfeld-Südharz in Saxony-Anhalt; Kyffhäuserkreis and Eichsfeld in Thuringia; and Göttingen and Goslar in Lower Saxony.

History

The district was created in 1815, when the Prussian province of Saxony was created. The area of Lohra-Clettenberg and the previously free imperial city of Nordhausen were thereafter administrated together. In 1882-3 Nordhausen left the district, which led to its renaming as the Kreis Grafschaft Hohenstein in 1888. After World War II the name reverted to Landkreis Nordhausen, and in 1950 the city of Nordhausen was reincorporated into the district. In the administrative reform of 1952 several municipalities changed districts: a number were transferred from the district of Sangerhausen to that of Nordhausen, while others were transferred from Nordhausen to the districts of Worbis, Wernigerode, Sondershausen, and Sangerhausen.

Geography

The district is located in the southern foothills of the Harz mountains. The highest point is the Große Ehrenberg, with an elevation of 635.3 m above sea level. The main river in the district is the Zorge. To the south lie the Dün, Hainleite, and Windleite ranges of hills.

Coat of arms

Towns and municipalities