Saxony

Geography

Saxony borders, from the east and clockwise, on Poland, the Czech Republic and the German states of Bavaria, Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt and Brandenburg. Its capital is Dresden, and the other principal cities are Leipzig and Chemnitz. Since 1989 the population of the state and its urban centers has diminished because of migration to the former West Germany.

Related Topics:
Poland - Czech Republic - Bavaria - Thuringia - Saxony-Anhalt - Brandenburg - Dresden - Leipzig - Chemnitz - West Germany

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The main axis of Saxony is the Elbe river, crossing the state from southeast to northwest. Another important river, west of the Elbe, is the Mulde. The Neiße river forms the Polish border. The portions in the east of Saxony are the southern parts of the historical region of Lusatia (Lausitz) and are called Upper Lusatia (Oberlausitz); the minority of the Sorbs live in the region, which is bilingual today.

Related Topics:
Elbe - Mulde - Neiße - Lusatia - Sorbs

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The countryside rises gradually from north to south, culminating in the mountain ranges along the Czech border. The Ore Mountains (Erzgebirge) extend from Bavaria to the Elbe river. The Elbe itself has cut a majestic gorge to pass the mountains of the Elbsandsteingebirge, better known as Saxon Switzerland. Further east the mountains are less high and form a hilly countryside called the Lausitzer Bergland. See also List of places in Saxony.

Related Topics:
Ore Mountains - Elbsandsteingebirge - Saxon Switzerland - Lausitzer Bergland - List of places in Saxony

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Saxony is divided into 3 Regierungsbezirke - Chemnitz, Dresden, Leipzig - which are subdivided into 22 districts:

Related Topics:
Regierungsbezirk - Chemnitz - Dresden - Leipzig

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Annaberg (ANA)
• Aue-Schwarzenberg (ASZ)
• Bautzen Budy?in (BZ)
• Chemnitzer Land (GC)
• Delitzsch (DZ)
• Döbeln (DL)
• Freiberg (FG)
• Kamenz Kamjenc (KM)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Leipziger Land (L)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Löbau-Zittau Lubij-?itawa (ZI)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Meißen Mi?no (MEI)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mittlerer Erzgebirgskreis (MEK)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mittweida (MW)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Muldentalkreis (MTL)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Niederschlesischer Oberlausitzkreis (NOL), belonged to Lower Silesia (mainly Poland today) before the war.

Related Topics:
Niederschlesischer Oberlausitzkreis - Lower Silesia

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Riesa-Großenhain (RG)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sächsische Schweiz (PIR) climbing area

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Stollberg (STL)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Torgau-Oschatz (TO)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Vogtlandkreis (V)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Weißeritzkreis (DW)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Zwickauer Land (Z)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Furthermore there are seven independent towns, which don't belong to any district:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Chemnitz Kamjenica (C)
• Dresden Drje?d?any (DD)
• Görlitz Zhorjelc (GR) (didn't belong to Saxony 1815-1945)
• Hoyerswerda Wojerecy (HY) (decided to accompany Saxony in 1990)
• Leipzig Lipsk (L)
• Plauen (PL)
• Zwickau (Z)