It's not exactly a stone's throw from America to Russia.
But in a town in Lower Saxony, these two are only a ten-minute walk away.
Friedeburg – Geographically, politically and in many other categories, America and Russia are worlds apart.
But not so in Lower Saxony.
Here “America” and “Russia” are only two kilometers apart.
Because both are districts of the town of Friedeburg, the self-proclaimed “green gate to the North Sea”, in the Wittmund district.
You can literally walk from America to Russia within a ten minute walk.
For comparison: the straight line between the two capitals of the USA and the Russian Federation, Washington and Moscow, is a good 7,800 kilometers.
And you still have to change.
By the way: “Paradise” is also in Lower Saxony.
Friedeburg in Lower Saxony: There are the districts Russia and America
A trip from America to Russia is much easier in Friedeburg.
The two districts were created in the first half of the 19th century.
However, there is no consensus as to how they got their unusual names.
“America” was probably initially a joke name.
According to the Friedeburg tourism website, the area was not yet developed and had to be reclaimed first.
districts |
Russia and America |
Location |
Friedburg |
district |
Wittmund |
region |
Ostfriesland |
Federal State |
Lower Saxony |
Distance of the districts |
Approx. 2 kilometers |
While many poor people sought their fortune in the New World and thus in real America, there were also settlers in this area who had to go through considerable effort to build something for themselves, just like in the Wild West.
The settlers had “their” America at home in Lower Saxony.
Russia in Friedeburg in Lower Saxony: Many theories about the origin of the name
There are several theories about the origin of Russia's district name.
According to the tourism website, a poor farmer who was only called “Russian” “because of his way of life and his rough demeanor” lived there over 100 years ago.
Another theory says that the district was particularly barren and difficult to manage, just as people imagined the impassable areas of Russia.
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The town sign of the Amerika district in Friedeburg in Lower Saxony.
© Mohssen Assanimoghaddam / dpa-Bildfunk
And a third theory assumes no connection with the country in the east, but with soot.
According to the author and dialect researcher Arend Remmers, the first residents worked there as charcoal burners and were referred to as “Rußmeister” or “Russians”.
Place signs in Russia and America in Friedeburg are often photographed
The two town signs, which identify Russia and America as official names, are very popular with snapshot hunters.
An oversized matryoshka and an Indian torture post could also be discovered there - of course the former (on the occasion of the 2018 World Cup) in Russia, the latter in America.
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On the occasion of the 2018 World Cup, which took place in Russia, matryoshkas were set up in the Friedeburg district of Russia.
© Mohssen Assanimoghaddam / dpa-Bildfunk
The origin of the name of the actual town is clearer: Friedeburg (Low German: Freeborg) is called that because the Friedeburg, which was built in 1359, stood there.
Until it was destroyed, this was the largest fortress in all of East Frisia.
Today only the castle stables remain.
With just over 10,000 inhabitants, Friedeburg is the third largest city in East Frisia.
The largest city near East Frisia is Bremen.
The largest free-standing bunker in Germany is also located there.
(cgsc)
Category list image: © Mohssen Assanimoghaddam / dpa-Bildfunk