Elbe-Elster

Elbe-Elster is a Kreis (district) in the southern part of Brandenburg, Germany.

History
The district was established in 1993 by merging the former districts (Kreise) of Finsterwalde, Bad Liebenwerda and Herzberg.

Geography
The district is named after two rivers: The Elbe river forms the western border with Saxony. The Schwarze Elster ("Black Elster") is a tributary of the Elbe and runs through the district. The district is part of the Lusatia region. The fens along the Black Elster are a habitat of several rare animals, like kingfishers, beavers and otters.

Coat of arms
100px|Coat of armsThe coat of arms was granted in 1995. The lion in the bottom left is from the county of Meißen which used to control the southern part of the district. The black bars are for Saxony-Wittenberg county as the area around Bad Liebenwerda belonged there in the past. The red bars are from the oldest coat of arms of Brandenburg, and the bull is the symbol for the Lower Lusatia area were the district is located.

Towns and municipalities
Amt-free townsÄmter Bad Liebenwerda
 Doberlug-Kirchhain
 Elsterwerda
 Falkenberg/Elster
 Finsterwalde
 Herzberg (Elster)
 Mühlberg
 Schönewalde
 Sonnewalde
 Uebigau-Wahrenbrück

Amt-free municipality
 Röderland1. Elsterland
 Heideland
 Rückersdorf
 Schilda
 Schönborn1
 Tröbitz

2. Kleine Elster (Niederlausitz)
 Crinitz
 Lichterfeld-Schacksdorf
 Massen-Niederlausitz1
 Sallgast

3. Plessa
 Gorden-Staupitz
 Hohenleipisch
 Plessa1
 Schraden4. Schlieben
 Fichtwald
 Hohenbucko
 Kremitzaue
 Lebusa
 Schlieben1, 2

5. Schradenland
 Gröden1
 Großthiemig
 Hirschfeld
 Merzdorf1seat of the Amt; 2town

Other websites
 Official Website 
 Touristic website 

Category:Rural Districts of Brandenburg