Editing Westerwald (section)

== Geography ==

=== Location ===
[[File:Herkersdorf Ottoturm.jpg|thumb|300px|View of the northern Westerwald from the Otto Turm at Herkersdorf/Kirchen]]
The Westerwald lies mostly southwest of the three-state common point shared by Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia in the districts of [[Altenkirchen (district)|Altenkirchen]], [[Lahn-Dill-Kreis|Lahn-Dill]], [[Limburg-Weilburg]], [[Neuwied (district)|Neuwied]], [[Rhein-Lahn-Kreis|Rhein-Lahn]], [[Rhein-Sieg]], [[Westerwaldkreis]] and partly in [[Siegen-Wittgenstein]]. It is found south of the [[Rothaargebirge]], southwest of the Lahn-Dill-Bergland (another low mountain range), north of the [[Taunus]] and east of the [[Middle Rhine]] and stretches more or less southwards from [[Siegen]] and [[Burbach (Siegerland)|Burbach]], southwestwards from [[Haiger]], northwestwards from [[Weilburg]], northwards from [[Limburg an der Lahn]], northeastwards from [[Koblenz]], eastwards from [[Linz am Rhein]], southeastwards from [[Wissen]] and southwards from [[Betzdorf, Germany|Betzdorf]]. In its centre lie [[Bad Marienberg (Westerwald)|Bad Marienberg]] and [[Hachenburg]].

Clockwise, the Westerwald is bordered by the following river valleys: the [[Rhine]] between [[Koblenz]] and [[Linz am Rhein|Linz]], the [[Sieg (river)|Sieg]] as far as Betzdorf, the [[Heller (river)|Heller]], the [[Dill (river)|Dill]] and from its mouth near [[Wetzlar]], the [[Lahn]] up to [[Lahnstein]].

[[Geomorphology|Geomorphologically]], the Westerwald belongs to the Rhenish Massif, which forms the greater part of that range's eastern half on the Rhine's right bank. Likewise, the [[Gladenbach Uplands]], lying east of the Dill, also belong to the Westerwald, whereas the mountains reaching up to {{convert|680|m|abbr=on}} near the Haiger Saddle ({{lang|de|Haiger Sattel}}) and east of [[Siegen]] are counted as part of the [[Rothaargebirge]].

=== The Westerwald's regions ===
The Westerwald is divided by elevation into these three regions:
* '''Unterer''' or '''Vorderer Westerwald''', or '''Vorderwesterwald''':
: Translated here as '''Lower Westerwald''', this region borders on the Rhine and Lahn river valley landscapes and manifests itself as the western and southwestern part of the Westerwald, a heavily [[truncated upland]] with elevations ranging from 200 to 400&nbsp;m. The subsidence areas found within (''Dierdorfer Senke'', ''Montabaurer Senke'') are known for their clay deposits. Indeed, the name for this small region is the [[Kannenbäckerland]], or "Jug Bakers’ Land", a reference to the traditional [[ceramic art|ceramics]] industry here. In the southwest, in the richly wooded Montabaur Heights (''Montabaurer Höhe'') is found a [[monadnock]]<!--Used to translate "Härtlingszug"; not sure if it's right.--> made of [[quartzite]], as well as the Malberg Conservation Area (''Naturschutzgebiet Malberg''). The [[Siebengebirge]] joining the range in the northwest near [[Bonn]] (reaching 464&nbsp;m) is, however, regionally grouped with the [[Middle Rhine]] area.
* '''Oberer Westerwald''':
: Translated here as '''Upper Westerwald''', this is a partly wooded land of volcanic crests with major basalt layers, above all in the area of the Westerwald Lake Plateau (''Westerwälder Seenplatte''), with elevations ranging from some 350 to 500&nbsp;m. To the south, as part of the Lahn valley, the hilly [[Limburg Basin]] abuts the Upper Westerwald.
* '''Hoher Westerwald''':
:The '''High Westerwald''' is an undulating and basalt-rich tableland decked with woodlands, making for a highly moderated [[microclimate]], especially against extreme warmth. It ranges from roughly 450 to 657&nbsp;m in height. Here is found the Fuchskaute, the highest peak.

=== Climate ===
The climate of the region vastly qualifies as [[oceanic climate|oceanic]] (Köppen climate classification: ''Cfb''), while higher altitudes experience a [[humid continental climate]] (Köppen climate classification: ''Dfb''). 

In the lowlands of the ''Unterwesterwald'' (Lower Westerwald), summers tend to be warm to hot. Erratic [[thunderstorm|convective downpours]] are not uncommon, yet mostly brief. Winters are mild and see a lot of precipitation, which mostly falls as rain. Snowfall occurs multiple times a year, but usually melts within hours. Thermophilic fruits like [[figs]] and [[peaches]] are [[hardiness zones|hardy]] in this area. 

The mountainous areas of the ''Oberwesterwald'' (Upper Westerwald) and ''Hoher Westerwald'' (High Westerwald) feature a much colder climate and are more prone to extreme weather, such as extreme wind gusts during [[european windstorms|extratropical cyclones]]. Summer days are pleasantly warm and rarely become hot due to a cool breeze, while winters are cold and rich in snow. The area is home to a number of [[ski areas]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.skiresort.de/skigebiete/westerwald/ | title=Skigebiete Westerwald - Skifahren im Westerwald }}</ref>

=== Places ===
District seats in the Westerwald are: [[Altenkirchen (Westerwald)|Altenkirchen]] (Altenkirchen district), [[Montabaur]] (Westerwaldkreis) and [[Neuwied]] (Neuwied district). Furthermore, the Lahn-Dill-Kreis, the [[Mayen-Koblenz]] district, the Rhein-Lahn-Kreis and the Limburg-Weilburg district each have shares of the Westerwald. If Sieg is taken as the Westerwald's northernmost limit, then the Rhein-Sieg district likewise belongs here, at least in parts (for example the Siebengebirge and the communities of [[Eitorf]] and [[Windeck]]).

=== Transport connections ===
The Westerwald and its outer edges are crossed by stretches of {{lang|de|[[Bundesstraße]]n}} [[Bundesstraße 8|8]], 42, [[Bundesstraße 49|49]], [[Bundesstraße 54|54]], [[Bundesstraße 62|62]], 255, 256, 277, 413 and 414, over which there are connections to the [[Autobahn]]en [[Bundesautobahn 3|A&nbsp;3]] ([[Cologne]]–[[Frankfurt am Main|Frankfurt]]), [[Bundesautobahn 45|A&nbsp;45]] ([[Dortmund]]–[[Aschaffenburg]]) and [[Bundesautobahn 48|A&nbsp;48]].

The most notable railway is the [[Cologne-Frankfurt high-speed rail line]] with minor stops at Montabaur and Limburg an der Lahn.

The High Westerwald is served by [[Siegerland Airport]] for private use and special touristic charters, south of [[Burbach (Siegerland)|Burbach]].

{{wide image| ww panorama bmg1.jpg|1500px|align-cap=center|Panorama of the Westerwald seen from [[Bad Marienberg (Westerwald)|Bad Marienberg]]}}