Merzig-Wadern

Merzig-Wadern
—  District  —
Country	Germany
State	Saarland
Capital	Merzig
Area
- Total	555.00 km2 (214.3 sq mi)
Population (31 December 2010)[1]
- Total	104,843
- Density	188.9/km2 (489.3/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Vehicle registration	MZG
Website	landkreis-merzig-wadern.de

Merzig-Wadern is a Kreis (district) in the northwest of the Saarland, Germany. Neighboring districts are Trier-Saarburg, Sankt Wendel, Saarlouis, and the French département Moselle, and Luxembourg.

History

The district was created in 1816 when the area became property of Prussia. After World War I the Saar area was under special government of the League of Nations, which split the district into two. The area around Wadern stayed Prussian, while the Merzig area became part of the Saar area. In 1935, the Saar area rejoined Germany; however, it took till after the World War II that the two parts of the district were reunited in 1946.

Geography

The Saar River flows through the district, the Moselle River forms the boundary in the west to Luxembourg.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms show the symbols of those countries which had possessions in the district's area. The top-left show the cross of Trier, the top-right those of Lorraine. The wolfs-hook in the bottom-left represents Dagstuhl, which owned Wadern; the lion in the bottom-right stands for Luxembourg, which owned the western part of the district.

Towns and municipalities

Towns	Municipalities
Merzig Wadern	Beckingen Losheim am See Mettlach Perl Weiskirchen

References

1. ^ "Fläche, Bevölkerung in den Gemeinden am 31.12.2010 nach Geschlecht, Einwohner je km² und Anteil an der Gesamtbevölkerung" (in German). Statistisches Amt des Saarlandes. 31 December 2010. http://www.saarland.de/dokumente/thema_statistik/staa_FB311209.pdf. 

External links

Media related to Landkreis Merzig-Wadern at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website (German)

Coordinates: 49°30′N 6°45′E / 49.5°N 6.75°E / 49.5; 6.75