Donau-Ries north there is the Nördlinger Ries, a huge depression, which is in fact an ancient impact crater, caused by a meteorite some 14.8 million years ago. Donau-Ries Donau-Ries ("Danube-Ries") is a "Landkreis" (district) in Swabia, Bavaria, Germany. It is bounded by (from the north and clockwise) the districts of Ansbach, Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen, Eichstätt, Neuburg-Schrobenhausen, Aichach-Friedberg, Augsburg and Dillingen, and by the state of Baden-Württemberg (districts of Heidenheim and Ostalbkreis). From Palaeolithic times on the Nördlinger Ries was a very attractive site for human settlement. The valley of the Danube was abounding with game, and many caves in the slopes of the
Alb-Donau-Kreis Alb-Donau-Kreis Alb-Donau-Kreis is a "Landkreis" (district) in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is bounded by (from the south and clockwise) the districts of Biberach, Reutlingen, Göppingen and Heidenheim, the two Bavarian districts Günzburg and Neu-Ulm, and the city of Ulm. The history of the region is linked with the history of Ulm and the Swabian Alb. The district of Alb-Donau was established in 1973 by merging the former districts of Ulm and Ehingen. The city of Ulm is surrounded by the district. It is the administrative seat of the Alb-Donau district, although it is not part of the district. The district is