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Lower Saxony

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Lower Saxony is a large state located in northern Germany.

Lower-Saxony-map
Lower-Saxony-map

It is the second-largest state by land area in the country. It is also the fourth-largest state when counting people. About 8 million people lived there in 2021. The state has more neighbors than any other single German state. It borders the North Sea to the north. It also touches the Netherlands and several other German states.

Lower Saxony, administrative divisions - de - colored
Lower Saxony, administrative divisions - de - colored

Interestingly, the city of Bremen sits entirely inside Lower Saxony. This makes Bremen an enclave, which is a piece of land surrounded by another area.

The land in Lower Saxony has many different shapes and feels. The northern half is part of the North German Plain. This area is almost always flat and level. In the northwest, you can find the East Frisian Islands by the North Sea.

Luftaufnahmen Nordseekueste 2012-05-by-RaBoe-D50 105
Luftaufnahmen Nordseekueste 2012-05-by-RaBoe-D50 105

Moving south, the land begins to rise into hills and mountains. You will find the Harz Mountains in the southeast. The highest point in the whole state is the Wurmberg. There are also the Lower Saxon Hills and the Weser Uplands. The northeast has a large area of sandy land called the Lüneburg Heath.

Water is a very important part of this landscape. Several large rivers flow through the state toward the north. These rivers are the Ems, the Weser, the Aller, and the Elbe. The Elbe valley helps separate Lower Saxony from other places like Hamburg. Some parts of the land have very good soil for growing food. For example, the Altes Land area has fertile soil and a gentle climate. This makes it a great place for fruit farming. People there grow many apples in that region.

The modern state of Lower Saxony began in 1946. It was created during a time when the British were in charge. The state was made by joining several smaller areas together. These included the State of Hanover and the states of Braunschweig, Oldenburg, and Schaumburg-Lippe.

Niedersachsen Verordnung 55 3339
Niedersachsen Verordnung 55 3339

Much of the new land came from the old Kingdom of Hanover. Because of this history, the state uses the symbols from that old kingdom. The name of the state comes from the ancient Saxon tribes.

Duchy of Saxony (134037775)
Duchy of Saxony (134037775)

These tribes lived in this region a very long time ago.

Many people live in the busy cities found here. Hanover is the capital city and is quite large. Other important cities include Braunschweig, Oldenburg, and Osnabrück. Wolfsburg, Göttingen, and Salzgitter are also well-known places. Many of these cities are located in the central or southern parts of the state. The cities and towns are the main centers for work and life. They connect the different parts of the state together. You can see how the state is organized by looking at its many districts.

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🖼️ Images & Media (8)
File:Lower-Saxony-map.png
Lower-Saxony-map.png
File:Luftaufnahmen Nordseekueste 2012-05-by-RaBoe-D50 105.jpg
Luftaufnahmen Nordseekueste...
File:Lower Saxony, administrative divisions - de - colored.svg
Lower Saxony, administrative divisions -...
File:Duchy of Saxony (134037775).jpg
Duchy of Saxony (134037775).jpg
File:Map of the Imperial Circles (1512)-en.png
Map of the Imperial Circles (1512)-en.png
File:KrkHannover.png
KrkHannover.png
File:Niedersachsen Verordnung 55 3339.jpg
Niedersachsen Verordnung 55 3339.jpg
File:St-andreas.jpg
St-andreas.jpg
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