Soest (district)

Infobox German district
name=Soest
state=North Rhine-Westphalia
capital=Soest
regierungsbezirk=Arnsberg
area=1,327.47
population=307,809
population_as_of=2001
density=232
carsign=SO
url=http://www.kreis-soest.de

Soest (IPA2|ˈzoːst) is a Kreis (district) in the middle of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Neighboring districts are Warendorf, Gütersloh, Paderborn, Hochsauerland, Märkischer Kreis, Unna and the district-free city Hamm.

History

In medieval times Soest was the biggest city of Westphalia, however after it liberated itself from the bishops of Cologne in the "Soester Fehde" in 1449 it slowly lost importance, only to gain it again when in 1816 the new Prussian government created the district. In 1975 the district was merged with the neighboring district Lippstadt and parts of the former district Arnsberg.

Geography

Geographically it covers the northern part of Sauerland hills and the lower land north of it, the "Hellweg". The rather flat land and very fertile loess soil makes it an old agricultural area. The main rivers through the district are the Ruhr, Lippe and the Möhne, which is damed to Möhne Reservoir. The highest elevation is in near Warstein with 580m, the lowest with 65m is the Lippe valley.

Coat of arms

Towns and municipalities

External links

* [http://www.kreis-soest.de Official website] (German, English)