| Statistics | |
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| State: | North Rhine-Westphalia |
| Adm. Region: | Arnsberg |
| Capital: | Meschede[?] |
| Area: | 19,587.08 km² |
| Inhabitants: | 281,188 (2002) |
| pop. density: | 144 inh./km² |
| Car identification: | HSK |
| Website: | http://www.hochsauerlandkreis.de | Map |
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The Hochsauerland is a Kreis (district) in the east of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Neighboring districts are Soest, Paderborn, Höxter, Waldeck-Frankenberg, Siegen-Wittgenstein, Olpe, Märkischer Kreis.
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History
It was created in 1975 as one of the reorganization of the districts in North Rhine-Westphalia from the previous districts Arnsberg, Brilon and Meschede.
Geography
Geographically it covers a big part of the Sauerland mountains, including the two highest elevations - the Langenberg near Olsberg[?] with 843m, and the better known Kahler Asten with 842m near Winterberg.
Coat of arms
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The coat of arms was inherited from the former district Arnsberg. It shows the eagle as the symbol of the earls of Arnsberg. When their county lost independence in 1368 it belonged to the bishops of Cologne, thus the sign on the breast of the eagle show the cologne cross. |
Towns and municipalities
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External links
Official Webpage (http://www.hochsauerlandkreis.de) (German)Touristic Website (http://www.sauerland-touristik.de) (German)