Märkisch-Oderland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Merkisch-Oderland
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| Country |  Germany |
| State | Brandenburg |
| Capital | Seelow |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2,127.7 km2 (821.5 sq mi) |
| Population
(2002)
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| • Total | 190,179 |
| • Density | 89.3824/km2 (231.499/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Vehicle registration | MOL |
| Website | maerkisch-oderland.de |
Märkisch-Oderland is a Kreis, which means a district or county, located in the eastern part of Brandenburg, a state in Germany. Its capital city is Seelow. This area is known for its beautiful nature and interesting history.
Contents
Exploring Märkisch-Oderland's Landscape
Märkisch-Oderland has a lot of farmland. But there's also a special swampy area along the Oder River called the Oderbruch. This unique area is about 60 kilometers (37 miles) long and 17 kilometers (11 miles) wide. In the 18th century, parts of the Oderbruch were drained. This made it possible for people to start living and farming in this new land.
A Look at Märkisch-Oderland's Past
The history of Märkisch-Oderland goes back to 1816. At that time, there were two separate districts called Lebus and Oberbarnim.
Later, in 1952, these districts were divided into three smaller parts: Bad Freienwalde, Seelow, and Strausberg. However, in 1993, these three parts were joined together again. This is how the current district of Märkisch-Oderland was formed.
Understanding the Coat of Arms
The coat of arms for Märkisch-Oderland tells a story about its history and geography.
In the upper part, you can see the eagle of Brandenburg. This eagle is a symbol of the state where Märkisch-Oderland is located. This part of the coat of arms also looks similar to the old coat of arms of the former district of Oberbarnim.
In the lower part, there are two boat-hooks and a star. These symbols were taken from the coat of arms of the former district of Seelow. The boat-hooks likely represent the importance of rivers and waterways.
Finally, the wavy line at the very bottom stands for the Oder River. This river is a very important natural feature of the district.
Towns and Communities in Märkisch-Oderland
Märkisch-Oderland is home to many towns and smaller communities. Some of these towns are called "Amt-free," which means they manage their own local government without being part of a larger administrative group called an Amt.
Some of the main towns that are Amt-free include:
- Altlandsberg
- Bad Freienwalde
- Müncheberg
- Seelow (which is also the capital of the district)
- Strausberg
- Wriezen
There are also several Amt-free municipalities, which are smaller communities that manage themselves.
Other towns and communities are part of an Amt. An Amt is a group of smaller towns and villages that work together for some administrative tasks. Each Amt has a main town where its offices are located.
For example, the Amt of Barnim-Oderbruch has its main office in Wriezen. Another Amt is Märkische Schweiz, which includes the town of Buckow.
This way of organizing helps all the different parts of the district work smoothly together.
See also
In Spanish: Distrito de Märkisch-Oderland para niños
