- Aurich (district)
Infobox German district noregbez
name=Aurich
state=Lower Saxony
capital=Aurich
area=1287
population=187,700
population_as_of=2002
density=146
carsign=AUR
url= [http://www.landkreis-aurich.de/ landkreis-aurich.de]Aurich is a district ("Landkreis") in
Lower Saxony ,Germany . It is bounded by (from the north and clockwise) theNorth Sea , the districts of Wittmund and Leer, and the city ofEmden .History
The history of the district is linked with the history of the region of
East Frisia .The district was established in
1977 by merging the former districts of Aurich and Norden.Geography
The district is located in the westernmost part of
East Frisia ("Ostfriesland"). In the west there is the mouth of the river Ems and theKrummhörn peninsula protruding into the estuary.The district includes the three populated islands of
Juist ,Norderney andBaltrum , which belong to theEast Frisian Islands . The small island ofMemmert south of Juist is a nature reserve housing rare birds. Part of the district belongs to theLower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park .Islands: Norderney 26 km², pop. 6100; Juist 16 km², pop. 1800; Baltrum 6.5 km², pop. 500; Memmert 5.2 km², pop. 0.
Coats-of-arms
The coat-of-arms, granted in
1978 , displays the so calledvirgin eagle (orharpy ), which was the heraldicanimal of theCirksena family , a localclan providing East Frisian chieftains during theMiddle Ages . Theacorn s in the arms are symbols of the city of Aurich and the six-pointedspur s are symbols of Norden. Theblazon is: "party per pale Azure and Gules, a harpy gardant Argent, above shoulders two six-pointed mullets Argent, below wings two acorns inverted Argent".The former coat-of-arms, granted in
1950 , shows agold enoak tree, representing theUpstalsboom , a tree outside the city of Aurich under which free Frisians gathered for their yearly council meetings. Its blazon is: "Gules, an oak tree Or, on a hill Or at base".Cities and municipalities
External links
*de icon [http://www.landkreis-aurich.de/ Official website]
*de icon [http://www.norderney.de Island of Norderney]
*de icon [http://www.juist.de Island of Juist]
*de icon [http://www.baltrum.de Island of Baltrum]
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