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Sächsische Schweiz

Sächsische Schweiz
District
Lkr-saechsschweiz.png
Country  Germany
State Saxony
Adm. region Dresden
Disbanded 2008-08-01
Capital Pirna
Area
 • Total 887.88 km2 (342.81 sq mi)
Population (2001)
 • Total 147,180
 • Density 170/km2 (430/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Vehicle registration PIR
Website lra-saechsische-schweiz.de

The Sächsische Schweiz (English: Saxon Switzerland) is a former district (Kreis) in the south of the Free State of Saxony, Germany. Neighboring districts were (from west clockwise) Weißeritzkreis, the district-free city Dresden and the districts Kamenz and Bautzen. To the south it borders the Czech Republic.

The district was created in 1994 when the two districts Sebnitz and Pirna were merged. In August 2008, as a part of the district reform in Saxony, the districts of Sächsische Schweiz and Weißeritzkreis were merged into the new district Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge.

The district is named after the landscape - the Saxon Switzerland - as it is the most mountainous region of Saxony. To the west are the Ore Mountains, and to the east the Lausitzer Bergland (Lusatian Mountains). The river Elbe flows through the Elbsandsteingebirge and separates the two mountain ranges. The highest elevation of the district is the 644 m (2,113 ft) high Oelsener Höhe in the southwest of the district, the lowest elevation is the valley of the Elbe at the boundary to Dresden which is 109 m (358 ft) above sea level.


Coordinates: 50°58′N 13°56′E / 50.967°N 13.933°E / 50.967; 13.933


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