Statistics
State:Lower Saxony
Adm. Region:Weser-Ems
Capital:Leer
Area:1086 km²
Inhabitants:163,800 (2002)
pop. density:151 inh./km²
Car identification:LER
Website:www.landkreis-leer.de
Map

Leer is a district in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is bounded by (from the northwest and clockwise) the city of Emden, the districts of Aurich, Wittmund, Friesland, Ammerland, Cloppenburg and Emsland, and by the Netherlands.

Table of contents
1 History
2 Geography
3 Coat of arms
4 Towns and municipalities
5 External links

History

For the history prior to 1744 see Ostfriesland.

In 1744 Ostfriesland was annexed by Prussia. In 1867 the region was subdivided into districts, and the districts of Leer and Weener were established. In 1932 these two districts were merged.

Geography

The district is located in the southern part of Ostfriesland. The Ems river runs through the district, coming out of the Emsland in the south and flowing into the Dollart, a bay of the North Sea. The island of Borkum, belonging to the East Frisian Islands, is also a part of the district.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms is identical to the arms of the East Frisian chieftain dynasty Ukena, rulers of the area during the 15th century.

Towns and municipalities

  1. Borkum
  2. Leer
  3. Weener
    Samtgemeinden
  1. Hesel
  2. Jümme
    Free municipalities
  1. Bunde
  2. Jemgum
  3. Moormerland
  4. Ostrhauderfehn
  5. Rhauderfehn
  6. Uplengen
  7. Westoverledingen

External links

Official website (German)
Borkum island (German, English, Dutch)