Osnabrück (district)

Osnabrück is a Kreis (district) in the southwestern part of Lower Saxony, Germany. Area 2121 km², population 355,900 (2001). The administrative centre of the district is Osnabrück, although the city is not part of the district.

The district was established in 1972 by merging four former districts (Osnabrück, Melle, Bersenbrück, Wittlage). The landscape is characterised by two mountain chains: the Wiehengebirge in the north and the northern foothills of the Teutoburg Forest in the south. These chains enclose the city of Osnabrück.

Towns in the district: Fürstenau, Bersenbrück, Bramsche, Melle, Georgsmarienhütte, Bad Iburg, Dissen.