Schleswig-Holstein

Geography

Schleswig-Holstein lies on the base of the peninsula of Jutland between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea.

Related Topics:
Peninsula - Jutland - Baltic Sea - North Sea

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The former Duchy of Holstein constitutes the southern part of Schleswig-Holstein, whereas Southern Schleswig constitutes the northern part. Furthermore the Duchy of Lauenburg and the former Free and Hanseatic City of Lübeck in the southeast of the state are part of today's Schleswig-Holstein.

Related Topics:
Duchy - Holstein - Southern Schleswig

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The former Duchy of Schleswig, (Slesvig in Danish), has been divided between Denmark and Germany since 1920. Northern Schleswig, today the Danish county of South Jutland (Sønderjylland), was ceded to Denmark after a referendum following Germany's defeat in World War I.

Related Topics:
Schleswig - Danish - 1920 - Northern Schleswig - South Jutland - Denmark - Referendum - World War I

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Schleswig-Holstein borders on Denmark in the North, the North Sea in the West, the Baltic Sea and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in the East, and Lower Saxony and Hamburg in the South. Kiel is the capital of this Bundesland.

Related Topics:
Denmark - North Sea - Baltic Sea - Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania - Lower Saxony - Hamburg - Kiel

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In the western part of the country there are lowlands with virtually no hills. The North Frisian Islands as well as almost all of Schleswig-Holstein's North Sea coast form Schleswig-Holstein's Mud Flats Nationalpark (Nationalpark Schleswig-Holsteinisches Wattenmeer) which is the largest national parc in Central Europe and unique of its kind. Germany's only high sea island Heligoland is situated further out in the North Sea. The Baltic Sea coast in the east of Schleswig-Holstein is marked by bays, fjords and cliff lines. There are rolling hills (the highest elevation is the Bungsberg at 168 meters) and many lakes, especially in the eastern part of Holstein called the Holsteinische Schweiz ("Switzerland of Holstein") and the Duchy of Lauenburg. Just one island lies off the eastern coast: Fehmarn. The longest river - besides the Elbe - is the Eider; the most important riverway is the Kiel Canal which connects the North Sea and Baltic Sea.

Related Topics:
North Frisian Islands - Heligoland - Holsteinische Schweiz - Fehmarn - Elbe - Eider

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See also List of places in Schleswig-Holstein.

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Schleswig-Holstein is divided into eleven Kreise (sg. Kreis; district):

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• Dithmarschen
• Lauenburg (formally: Herzogtum Lauenburg)
• Nordfriesland
• Ostholstein
• Pinneberg
• Plön

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Rendsburg-Eckernförde

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Schleswig-Flensburg

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Segeberg

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Steinburg

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Stormarn

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Furthermore there are four independent cities, which do not belong to any district:

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• Kiel
• Lübeck
• Neumünster
• Flensburg