Title: Regional Profile Report - Central Europe

Figure 2: Population development in the district Mansfeld-Südharz (by age groups)
(Data: Statistisches Landesamt Sachsen-Anhalt)
2.1.2. Infrastructure and Economy
Although the district is situated right at the geographical centre of Germany, its location
outside the agglomeration of Halle-Leipzig, as well as the separation from the Western
German regions by the mountain ranges, makes it a distinctly peripheral location.
Nevertheless the region has been recently provided with a motorway link that connects the
area to the near-by agglomerations of Halle and Leipzig, as well as to Göttingen (BAB 38)
and to Erfurt (BAB 71) 3 . The region is also an important regional train corridor linking the
East-West- (Kassel to Halle) and North-South-traffic (Erfurt to Magdeburg).
The biggest towns in the region only provide regional and local infrastructures.
Administrational centre of the new district “Mansfeld-Südharz” is the town of Sangerhausen,
in contrast to the traditional historical centre, the “Lutherstadt Eisleben”.
The district can be described as economically heterogeneous: Biggest employers are
companies connected to the former mining industries (MKM Copper rolling mill in Hettstedt 4 ,
ROMANTA lignite mining 5 ). There are also traditional manufacturing industries (MIFA 6 ), as
well as new branch industries (Klemme AG 7 ). Also notable is the very high rate of agricultural
3 Both motorways have been constructed recently and some intersections are still being build
4 Leading producer of copper-based semi-finished products. Located in Hettstedt since 1907
5 Lignite mining company producing montanwax. Since 1922 in Amsdorf. About 480 Employees
6 Producer of bicycles in Sangerhausen since 1907. About 400 Employees.
7 Producer of frozen bakery products. Located in Eisleben. About 900 Employees (all data: www.mansfeld-südharz.de).
Regional Profile Mansfeld-Südharz
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