Parchim (district)

Infobox German district noregbez
name=Parchim
state=Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
capital=Parchim
area=2,233
population=107,996
population_as_of=2001
density=48
carsign=PCH
url=http://www.landkreis-parchim.de

Parchim is a "Kreis" (district) in the southwestern part of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany. Neighboring districts are (from the north clockwise) Nordwestmecklenburg, Güstrow, Müritz, the district Prignitz in Brandenburg, the district Ludwigslust and the district-free city Schwerin.

Geography

Most of the district is now agriculturally used, but in the easternmost part there are several lakes, the largest of them being the Plauer See (39 km²). The Plauer See marks the western end of the Müritz lakeland.

History

Until 1994 the present-day district was divided into the three districts of Parchim, Sternberg and Lübz. The borders of the district are roughly identical with the medieval principality of Parchim-Riechenberg, which existed between 1238 and 1316.

Coat of arms

External links

* [http://www.landkreis-parchim.de Official website] (German)