Weißwasser

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Weißwasser
Coat of arms Location
Coat of arms of Weißwasser
Weißwasser (Germany)
Weißwasser
Administration
Country Flag of Germany Germany
State Saxony
Admin. region Dresden
District Niederschlesischer Oberlausitzkreis
Municipal assoc. Weißwasser
Mayor Hartwig Rauh
Basic statistics
Area 63.60 km² (24.6 sq mi)
Elevation 140 m  (459 ft)
Population 20,823  (31/12/2006)
 - Density 327 /km² (848 /sq mi)
Other information
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Licence plate NOL
Postal code 02943
Area code 03576
Website www.weisswasser.de
Location of the town of Weißwasser within Niederschlesischer Oberlausitzkreis district
Map

Coordinates: 51°30′00″N 14°38′00″E / 51.5, 14.633333

Weißwasser (Sorbian Běła Woda) is a small town in Upper Lusatia in eastern Saxony, Germany.

Weißwasser is the biggest town in its district, the Niederschlesischer Oberlausitzkreis. The town's landmark is its water tower and it was host to the Day of the Saxons in 2005.

Contents

[edit] History

Weißwasser was mentioned for the first time on 8 June 1552, but it did not receive its town charter until 28 August 1935. In the Second World War, 40% of the town had been destroyed.

In the 19th and 20th century, Weißwasser was the European centre of glass production. However, many enterprises had to close during the communist regime of the GDR. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, only a few enterprises were left.

Nowadays, Weißwasser struggles with the aftereffects of reunification, as the fall of the Berlin Wall has had a devastating effect on the local economy. Many people have since lost their jobs and the town's population continues to suffers from a high percentage of unemployment. Consequently, many have left the area in the hope of finding a new job elsewhere in a reunited Germany. Recently, in September 2005, Weißwasser hosted the "Day of the Saxons." The event was a success with more than 300,000 visitors, which left some believing that the town could reinvent itself as a tourist attraction.

[edit] Coat of Arms

The coat of arms has been allotted on 31 January 1927. The two green glasses symbolise the glass industry of the town, which has been one of the largest in former East Germany. The tools are a reference to the coal mining, which is being carried out close to the city. Blue and yellow are the traditional colours of Upper Lusatia and the white waves in the bottom part of the coat of arms are symbolising the name of the city.

[edit] Population development

Development of the population figure since 31 December 1960

  • 1825 - 390
  • 1933 - 13,494
  • 1939 - 14,388
  • 1946 - 12,940
  • 1950 - 13,844
  • 1960 - 14,028
  • 1981 - 32,799
  • 1984 - 34,994
  • 1988 - 38,288
  • 1995 - 31,745
  • 1997 - 30,300
  • 1998 - 28,605
  • 1999 - 27,315
  • 2000 - 26,107
  • 2001 - 24,815
  • 2002 - 23,862
  • 2003 - 22,966
  • 2004 - 22,758
  • 2005 - 21,912

Source from 1998 on: Statistics office Saxony

[edit] Politics

A new city council was elected on the 13 June 2004. Out of 18,653 eligible voters, 29.36% participated in the vote. The results were as following:

  • 27.68 % PDS
  • 27.01 % CDU
  • 18.54 % Wir für Hier e.V.
  • 12.70 % SPD
  • 6.96 % Klartext
  • 3.84 % FDP
  • 3.26 % NPD

[edit] Twin cities

[edit] Sights

  • Water Tower
  • Ice Hockey Stadium "Fuchsbau" (fox's den)
  • Glass makers museum
  • Zoo
  • Pückler - Park in Bad Muskau
  • Rhododendron - Park in Kromlau
  • Forest Railway Muskau
  • Braunsteich - Lake
  • Erratic Rock - Park in Nochten
  • Opencast pit in Nochten

[edit] Sport

The local ice hockey club Eissport Weißwasser, also known as "The Foxes", has been the most successful club in the ice hockey Premier League of Former East Germany.

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
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Towns and municipalities in Niederschlesischer Oberlausitzkreis
Coat of arms