Westphalia facts for kids
Westphalia (called Westfalen in German) is a region in Germany. Many important cities are found here. These include Arnsberg, Bielefeld, Bochum, Detmold, Dortmund, Gelsenkirchen, Hagen, Minden, and Münster.
In 1946, a new state called North Rhine-Westphalia was formed. This new state includes a large part of the historical Westphalia region. Westphalia is generally located between the Rhine and Weser rivers. It lies both north and south of the Ruhr River.
Over time, the exact borders of Westphalia have changed. Because of this, it's hard to say exactly how big it is. Its size can range from about 16,000 to 22,000 square kilometers (6,200 to 8,500 square miles). The number of people living there also varies, from 4.3 million to 8 million. However, most people agree that Münster, Bielefeld, and Dortmund are definitely part of Westphalia.
Contents
Understanding Westphalia's Borders
The idea of Westphalia has changed a lot throughout history. Different areas have been called "Westphalia" at different times. This means its borders are not always clear.
Westphalian Language Area
One way to define Westphalia is by its language. The Westphalian language is a type of Low Saxon dialect. Areas where this language was spoken include the old Prussian Province of Westphalia. This province existed from 1815 to 1946. It included most of Westphalia, except for the Siegen-Wittgenstein Rural District. Other areas with the Westphalian language were Lippe, the region around Osnabrück, and the larger area of Emsland.
Westphalia Today
Today, when people talk about Westphalia, they often mean the part that is now in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. This is the most common way to think about the region today.
Historical Importance of Westphalia
Westphalia is famous for a very important event in history. This event is the Peace of Westphalia in 1648.
Ending the Thirty Years' War
The Peace of Westphalia was a series of peace treaties. These treaties officially ended the Thirty Years' War. This war was a long and terrible conflict in Europe. The two main treaties were signed in the cities of Münster and Osnabrück. Both of these cities are in the Westphalia region.
Images for kids
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The Sauerland is a beautiful mountainous area in Westphalia.
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This map shows different dialects in North Rhine-Westphalia. Franconian dialects are in red, and West Low German dialects are in blue.
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This painting by Gerard Terborch shows the signing of the Peace of Westphalia in Münster in 1648.
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See also
In Spanish: Westfalia para niños
