# Vulkaneifel

Vulkaneifel (German pronunciation:) is a district (Kreis) in the northwest of the state Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is the least densely populated district in the state and the fourth most sparsely populated district in Germany. The administrative centre of the district is in Daun. Neighboring districts are Euskirchen (North Rhine-Westphalia), Ahrweiler, Mayen-Koblenz, Cochem-Zell, Bernkastel-Wittlich, and Bitburg-Prüm.

## Location

The county of Vulkaneifel lies in the western part of the eponymous region which lies at heights between 150 and 700 metres above sea level. As a result of former volcanism numerous mineral springs (Sauerbrunnen) have formed. The Kyll flows through the county from north to south. The German Wildlife Route and the German Volcano Route also cross the county as does the Eifelsteig hiking trail.

## History

The district was created in 1815 when the Eifel became part of Prussia. As most of the local industries had their traditional markets in France, the district fell into a severe economic crisis. The construction of a railroad in the second half of the 19th century helped it to recover. The construction of the Nürburgring in 1927 was also an infrastructural project that helped the local economy. The district was enlarged significantly in 1970–1971, when the districts Mayen and Prüm were dissolved and parts were added to the Daun district.
On January 1, 2007, the district Daun was renamed Vulkaneifel, the name of the landscape.

## Geography

The district is located in the Eifel mountains, containing volcanic lakes called maars. The largest river in the district is the Kyll.
The Vulkaneifel consists of three regions: Vulkanische Osteifel (municipalities of Brohltal, Vordereifel, Mendig, Pellenz), Vulkanische Hocheifel (municipalities of Kelberg, Ulmen, and the village of Nohn), and Vulkanische Westeifel (remainder of the municipality of Hillesheim, and municipalities Obere Kyll, Gerolstein, Manderscheid, Daun).

## Tourism

Places of interest in the Vulkaneifel include the maar lakes around Daun, and Manderscheid, as well as the caldera lake of Laacher See at the abbey of Maria Laach, which is the largest, and the youngest within the region. Hiking and cycling trails dot the region.
Museums in the Vulkaneifel include the Lava-Dome (the German volcanic museum) in Mendig, the Vulkanhaus in Strohn, and the Eifel-Vulkanmuseum in Daun.
The Vulkaneifel contains three geological parks (2004,45 km$^2$), the Vulkanpark Brohltal/Laacher See, the Vulkanpark Osteifel, and the Vulkaneifel European Geopark.
The Castle of Eltz and the Castle of Lissingen are well preserved castles in the Vulkaneifel.

## Coat of arms

The coat of arms show the symbols of three territories which historically made up the district. In the left is the cross of Trier, the lion in the right represents the Counts of Blankenheim-Gerolstein. The escutcheon in the middle show the arms of the Counts of Daun.

## Towns and municipalities

Verbandsgemeinden :
| 1. Daun Betteldorf Bleckhausen Brockscheid Darscheid Daun$^{1,2}$ Demerath Deudesfeld Dockweiler Dreis-Brück Ellscheid Gefell Gillenfeld Hinterweiler Hörscheid Immerath Kirchweiler Kradenbach Mehren Meisburg Mückeln Nerdlen Niederstadtfeld Oberstadtfeld Sarmersbach Saxler Schalkenmehren Schönbach Schutz Steineberg Steiningen Strohn Strotzbüsch Udler Üdersdorf Utzerath Wallenborn Weidenbach Winkel | 2. Gerolstein Basberg Berlingen Berndorf Birgel Birresborn Densborn Dohm-Lammersdorf Duppach Esch Feusdorf Gerolstein$^{1,2}$ Gönnersdorf Hallschlag Hillesheim Hohenfels-Essingen Jünkerath Kalenborn-Scheuern Kerpen Kerschenbach Kopp Lissendorf Mürlenbach Neroth Nohn Oberbettingen Oberehe-Stroheich Ormont Pelm Reuth Rockeskyll Salm Scheid Schüller Stadtkyll Steffeln Üxheim Walsdorf Wiesbaum | 3. Kelberg Arbach Beinhausen Bereborn Berenbach Bodenbach Bongard Borler Boxberg Brücktal Drees Gelenberg Gunderath Höchstberg Horperath Hörschhausen Kaperich Katzwinkel Kelberg$^1$ Kirsbach Kolverath Kötterichen Lirstal Mannebach Mosbruch Neichen Nitz Oberelz Reimerath Retterath Sassen Uersfeld Ueß Welcherath |
| $^1$seat of the Verbandsgemeinde; $^2$town |||