| Statistics | |
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| State: | Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania |
| Capital: | Neustrelitz |
| Area: | 2,089 km² |
| Inhabitants: | 87,115 (2001) |
| pop. density: | 42 inh./km² |
| Car identification: | MST |
| Homepage: | Map |
Mecklenburg-Strelitz is a Kreis (district) in the southern part of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany. Neighboring districts are (from the north clockwise) Demmin, Ostvorpommern Uecker-Randow, the districts Uckermark, Oberhavel and Ostprignitz-Ruppin in Brandenburg, and the district Müritz. The district-free city Neubrandenburg is nearly completely sorrounded by the district.
| Table of contents |
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2 History 3 Coat of arms 4 Towns and municipalities 5 External links |
Geography
The district of Mecklenburg-Strelitz occupies the eastern parts of the Müritz lakeland and the Müritz National Park. There are numerous tiny lakes and swamps in the southern and western portions of the district.
History
The name of this district traces back to the duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. This duchy was established in 1701 after the former duchy of Mecklenburg-Güstrow ceased to exist. The area of the district is roughly identical with the old duchy, although the duchy included an exclave around Ratzeburg, which is today situated in Schleswig-Holstein. The capital of the duchy was the town of Strelitz, which was completely destroyed in a fire in 1712. After this disaster the duke ordered to build a new town at the shore of a small lake called the Zierker See. This town became Neustrelitz (= "New Strelitz").
The district was created by merging the three previous districts Neubrandenburg, Neustrelitz and Strasburg in 1994.
| The coat of arms of the district is nearly identical with the coat of arms of the duchy Mecklenburg-Strelitz. The tower stands for the castle of Stargardm, which was the seat of the dukes of Mecklenburg for many times since its construction in the 13th century. The bull head in the topleft is also a symbol of the dukes of Mecklenburg. The cross in the right-bottom was changed from the old coat of arms - instead of a Christian cross it is now a Maltese cross, symbolizing the possessions of the Order of St. John of Malta in the territory before 1648. |
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