Mittlerer Erzgebirgskreis

Mittlerer Erzgebirgskreis
—  District  —
Country	Germany
State	Saxony
Adm. region	Chemnitz
Disbanded	2008-08-01
Capital	Marienberg
Area
- Total	595.36 km2 (229.9 sq mi)
Population (2001)
- Total	93,483
- Density	157/km2 (406.7/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Vehicle registration	MEK
Website	http://www.erzgebirge-mek.de

The Mittlerer Erzgebirgskreis is a former district in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It was bounded by (from the west and clockwise) the districts of Annaberg, Stollberg, the district-free city Chemnitz, and the district Freiberg. To the south it borders the Czech Republic (the Karlovy Vary Region).

History

The district was formed in 1994 by merging the two previous districts Marienberg and Zschopau. On 1 August 2008 it was merged into the new district Erzgebirgskreis.

Geography

The district was located in the Ore Mountains (German Erzgebirge). The highest elevation is the 891 m high Hirtstein, the lowest elevation with 305 m is located in Witzschdorf. 40% of the area is covered by forests.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms shows three symbols of the typical industries of the district. To the left is a wheel, symbolizing the water mills which were abundant in the district, it also symbolizes the more modern industries. The tree to the left stands for the many forests and the timber industry, the hammers in the bottom are a mining symbol, as the district was a center of ore mining.

Towns and municipalities

Towns	Municipalities
Lengefeld Marienberg Olbernhau Wolkenstein Zöblitz Zschopau	Amtsberg Börnichen Borstendorf Deutschneudorf Drebach Gornau Großolbersdorf Großrückerswalde	Grünhainichen Heidersdorf Pfaffroda Pobershau Pockau Seiffen Venusberg Waldkirchen

External links

• Official website (German)
• Touristical website (German)