Merkers
| Merkers-Kieselbach | ||
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| Ortsteil of Krayenberggemeinde | ||
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 Merkers-Kieselbach
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| Coordinates: 50°49′N 10°7′E / 50.817°N 10.117°ECoordinates: 50°49′N 10°7′E / 50.817°N 10.117°E | ||
| Country | Germany | |
| State | Thuringia | |
| District | Wartburgkreis | |
| Municipality | Krayenberggemeinde | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 19.43 km2 (7.50 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 250 m (820 ft) | |
| Population (2012-12-31) | ||
| • Total | 2,895 | |
| • Density | 150/km2 (390/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2) | |
| Postal codes | 36460 | |
| Dialling codes | 036969, 036963 | |
| Vehicle registration | WAK | |
Merkers-Kieselbach is a former municipality in the Wartburgkreis district of Thuringia, Germany. Since 31 December 2013, it is part of the municipality Krayenberggemeinde.
Merkers-Kieselbach lies on either side of the River Werra near the Thüringer Wald and Rhön hills. It contains the settlements of Merkers, Kieselbach and Kambachsmühle.
Kieselbach was first mentioned 1155 in a deed from Kloster Hersfeld, and Merkers in 1308.
Merkers-Kieselbach was formed in 1994 by merging the two village councils. but didn't last long, as in 2013 it too merged with the neighbouring Dorndorf forming Krayenberggemeinde.
The ceremonial coat-of arms of the authority was designed in 1994 by the heraldic designer Uwe Reipert. The "Wellenbalken or silver fess wavy" with "Kieseln- golden stones" symbolises the word Kieselbach, the castle symbolises the Krayenburg Crossed miners hammers and a green hill are included.
Population
The last Merkers-Kieselbach chamber had 16 elected members:
The last elected Bürgermeister, Inka Sollmann, (independent) taking 91% of the popular vote.
The Merkers area of the municipality is famous for its salt mine, which is now exploited as the Merkers Adventure Mines visitor attraction. Here large amounts of Nazi gold, and many stolen works of art were discovered by the United States Army in 1945. General Dwight D. Eisenhower himself went into the mine in April 1945 in order to examine the find. Though this is the worlds largest Potash mine, thousands of visitors annually visit the "World of White Gold"
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Wikipedia