One of the most popular Germans in the world is Hans Christian Andersen. A great storyteller, he fed us with thoughts of fairies dancing in the moonlight, little elves creating shoes, wee pixies playing beneath a dew-laden leaf, and the undying love stories of courageous princes and gentle princesses. He created a world of wonder and magic; a world that only thrives within the limits of our imagination.

But what if this world is, after all, real? What if it really did exist? What if it still exists? What if that world is somewhere on Lower Saxony? Well, that would not be a difficult thing to perceive. With its beautiful woodlands, rolling mountains, numerous moors, wet bogs, vast heaths, and countless castles, Lower Saxony could possibly be the homeland of our favorite fairytale stories.

Locally referred to as "Niedersachsen", Lower Saxony is the second largest state in Germany after Bavaria. To its northwest lies the North Sea, wherein the East Frisian Islands, including Borkum, Baltrum, Juist, Langeoog, Memmert, Norderney, Spiekeroog, and Wangerooge are situated. The northern part of the state is composed of marshlands, bogs, and sandy lowlands, very much like its Western neighbor, the Netherlands. It is bordered on the northeast by the Lüneburger Heide. On its southwest lies the swampy Emsland region. The southern part of the state touches the Oldenburgisches Münsterwald; whereas, the southeast and the eastern part spreads out as hilly landscapes provides the view. The hills in the southeast farther extends to embrace the rocky mountain ranges of the Harz, wherein Wurmberg, the tallest peak in the state stands high among its ground to hold the skies

Aside from the spectacular landscapes, Lower Saxony prides itself with its marvelous waterscapes. The renowned waterways such as the Mittelland Canal, the Dortmund-Ems Canal, and the Elbe-Seiten Canal, are found in the state. Aside from their importance, the waterscapes of Lower Saxony are of equal beauty as its land counterparts. Rivers like the Ems, Weser, Elbe, Fulda, Werra, Aller, and Leine snake their way all over the country. The entire stretch of Weser River is a haven for nature lovers as it provides a magnificent panorama of majestic waterfalls, sparkling lakes, mysterious mountain rivers, and humble windmills. The Elbe river separates Lower Saxony from Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Brandenburg. The Southern banks of the Elbe were nicknamed Altes Land (Old Country) for its gentle and homely climate, fertile soil, and rich apple orchards.

Lakes that shimmer like mirrors in the morning sun are also a-plenty in the state. Dümmer, Steinhuder, and Zwischenahn are some of the many lakes that attracted tourists and kept them coming back to Lower Saxony. Between the towering peaks of Harz in the South and appealing island of Borkum off the coast of the North Sea is where most of the people of the state settle. Aside from that, one can observe the fascinating conglomeration of deserted heaths and the most fertile soils in all of Germany. Lower Saxony’s beautiful geography must have long nestled stories about fairies and nymphs, and knights and dragons as its mystical woodlands and countless moors could possibly be the very place that all those children storybooks and fairytales are telling us of.

History of Lower Saxony

Lower Saxony is named after the Saxons. The Saxons originally lived on what is now the modern city of Schleswig-Holstein and Chauci. Then, they expanded over the whole region of Lower Saxony and even much farther. The whole region was originally called Saxony; but when the Duchy of Saxony moved northwards to the Elbe, towards the present-day states of Saxony-Anhalt and Saxony, the region has been named the Lower Saxony.

Lower Saxony was formed as a separate region during the middle Ages. That was the time when various German tribes settled in the region and were converted into Christianity. Nevertheless, the Christian region has been predominantly Protestant after the Reformation. On November 1 1946, the British military administration merged the states of Brunswick, Oldenburg, Schaumburg-Lippe and the Prussian province of Hanover to form the state.

Industry and Economy

Since Lower Saxony is bountifully rich in natural resources, it is would not come as a shock that agriculture has always been a very important economic factor in the state. Wheat, potatoes, oats, and rye still remain as the state’s agricultural produce up until today. The southern part of the state, layers of loess contribute to the fertility of the soil. Thus, one of the principal crops grown there is the sugar beet. The northern part of Lower Saxony is made of sandy soil so it is not feasible for planting. However, it is a perfect place for cattle farming. Thus, aside from crops, poultry and livestock like beef and pork still count as top agricultural products for the state.

Aside from agriculture, mining has been highly regarded in the state for centuries. The Harz Mountains has been an epitome of economic prosperity for its abundance of silver ore. Other places also provide mining products such as iron in Salzgitter and salt in numerous areas all over the state. Even if the oil reserves are relatively low, Lower Saxony still plays an important part in supplying crude oil in the European Union.

Natural resources do provide a huge help in sustaining the economy of Lower Saxony. However, aside from agriculture and mining, the manufacturing industry has made a name for the state. The car company Volkswagen has its five production plants within the state’s borders. And because we talk of the industrial sector, we should not neglect the existence of other industries like aviation, shipbuilding, biotechnology, and steel in the area.
Centuries after Andersen’s time, Lower Saxony has been largely industrialized, and is playing a huge part in the sustenance of Germany in economics and help in the European Union, but it still strikes the balance in keeping the environment beautiful. The great storyteller may had never imagined of the new things that we enjoy now because of technology, but we can still share his thought of experiencing a magical world through the beautiful land of Lower Saxony.