Borken, Hesse
Borken | |
|---|---|
Historic centre | |
Location of Borken within Schwalm-Eder district | |
| Coordinates: 51°02′45″N 09°16′02″E / 51.04583°N 9.26722°E | |
| Country | Germany |
| State | Hesse |
| Admin. region | Kassel |
| District | Schwalm-Eder-Kreis |
| Subdivisions | 14 Quarters |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2021–27) | Marcèl Pritsch (FW) |
| Area | |
• Total | 82.46 km2 (31.84 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 205 m (673 ft) |
| Population (2023-12-31) | |
• Total | 12,307 |
| • Density | 150/km2 (390/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| Postal codes | 34582 |
| Dialling codes | 05682 |
| Vehicle registration | HR |
| Website | www.borken-hessen.de |
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Borken (German pronunciation: [ˈbɔʁkn̩] ⓘ) is a small town with about 13,000 inhabitants in the Schwalm-Eder district in northern Hesse, Germany.
The town is a former centre for brown coal mining and coal-fired electrical generation in Hesse. The coalmine, unlike those in other regions, also had underground workings. After a major disaster – namely a coal dust explosion – the mine was shut down on 1 June 1988.
Since that time, the former coal pits have been redeveloped into recreation areas with lakes, nature areas – some actually protected by law – and sporting grounds. Among these areas are der Borkener See (Borken Lake) with its nature reserve, der Singliser See (Singlis Lake) with windsurfing, and die Stockelache ("Stagnant Puddle"), used as a bathing lake.
One particular attraction in Borken is the Hessian Brown Coal Mining Museum (Hessisches Braunkohle Bergbaumuseum) which displays the town's coal-mining tradition. Since 2003, an open-air museum, where visitors may learn about "coal and energy", has also been open. The museum is also affiliated with a nature conservation information centre for the Borkener See.
Borken's best known landmark is its watertower.