Osterode am Harz District

Osterode District is a district in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is bounded by (from the southwest and clockwise) the districts of Göttingen, Northeim and Goslar, and by the state of Thuringia (districts of Nordhausen and Eichsfeld).

History
This part of the Harz mountains was ruled by the Welfen dynasty from the 12th century on. Osterode was the centre of the Principality of Brunswick-Grubenhagen, one of many small states within Brunswick-Lüneburg. Later this principality became part of Hanover, which in turn fell to the Kingdom of Prussia in 1866. In 1885 the Prussian administration established districts, among them Osterode.

Geography
More than two thirds of the district's area are occupied by the southwestern part of the Harz mountains, including the southern portion of the Harz National Park.

Coat of arms
The coat of arms displays two heraldic lions. The lion in the upper part is from the arms of Hanover, the lower lion represents the Welfen dynasty.

Towns and municipalities
Towns:
 * 1) Bad Lauterberg
 * 2) Bad Sachsa
 * 3) Herzberg am Harz
 * 4) Osterode am Harz

Municipalities:
 * 1) Bad Grund2

Unincorporated area
 * Harz (Landkreis Osterode am Harz) (267.37 km², uninhabited)