The district is located at the border of Saxony-Anhalt and extends from the southern edge of the Lüneburg Heath (Lüneburger Heide) in the north to the suburbs of Braunschweig and Wolfsburg in the south. The Aller River enters the district in the southeast, runs through the town of Gifhorn, is joined by the Ise and Oker river and leaves the district in the west. The southern terminus of the Elbe Lateral Canal at the Mittellandkanal is at Edesbüttel in the district.
The lowest point of the administrative district Gifhorn lies at the Aller near Müden (46 m (151 ft) above sea level). The highest point lies in the north of the district near Sprakensehl (124 m (407 ft) above sea level).
History
The district was established in 1885 by the Prussian government. In 1932, the former district of Isenhagen became the northern part of the Gifhorn district. The city of Wolfsburg originally was a part of the district, but became a district-free city in 1951. In 1974 the district again lost parts of its territory, when the city of Fallersleben was incorporated into Wolfsburg.
Coat of arms
The lion as well as the hearts are heraldic symbols of Lüneburg - Gifhorn was a part of the duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg for many centuries and, briefly the Duchy of Gifhorn. The horn symbolises the syllable "horn" in the word Gifhorn.
Towns and municipalities
Clickable map of towns and municipalities in the district
