What is Kyffhäuserkreis?
{{Infobox German district | name=Kyffhäuserkreis| image_coa=Wappen Kyffhaeuserkreis.png| state=Thuringia| capital=[[Sondershausen]]| Kreisschlüssel = 16065| area=1,035| population=91,940| population_as_of=2002| density=89| carsign=KYF| url=http://www.kyffhaeuser.de| map=thuringia_kyf.png |coordinates = {{Coord|51.33|10.92|display=title|format=dms}} }} '''Kyffhäuserkreis''' is a [[Rural Districts of Germany|rural district]] in the northern part of [[Thuringia]], [[Germany]]. == History == In the 12th century there was a castle on the [[Kyffhäuser]] mountains, which was built during the reign of emperor [[Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick I]]. According to the local legend, the emperor did not die, but instead went to sleep in this castle. From 1579 on the region belonged to [[Saxony]], but after 1815 it was divided between the [[Prussia]]n [[Province of Saxony]] and [[Schwarzburg-Sondershausen]]. In 1952 the two districts of Artern and Sondershausen were set up by the [[East German]] government. These districts were merged in 1994, with only a few municipalities joining other districts. ==Partnerships== The district has a [[twin town|partnership]] with the district [[Ahrweiler]] in [[Rhineland-Palatinate]], which was actually established with the district Artern in 1990. == Geography == The district is named after the ''Kyffhäuser'' mountains. The main river is the [[Unstrut]], which flows through the east of the district. == Coat of arms == {| |- valign=top ||[[File:Wappen Kyffhaeuserkreis.png|100px|Coat of arms]] ||The main symbol of the coat of arms is the lion of the counts of Schwarzburg, who historically ruled most of the district. The lion holds a shield which contains the coat of arms of the Counts of Mansfeld, who owned the area around Artern in the [[18th century]]. The three green hills in the bottom symbolize the mountainous landscape with many forest, the big wavy line stands for the river Unstrut, the small one for the [[Wipper (Unstrut)|Wipper]] river. |} ==Towns and municipalities