Borken () 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. Geography Geographical location The next towns to Borken are Fritzlar (15 km) in the northwest and Homberg (15 km) in the west. Within 50 km distance is Kassel the next large city in the north and with 55 km Marburg in the south. Geology The municipal area is a part of natural region of the West Hesse Depression. The following sub-divisions of this natural region impinge on Borken: Landsburg Depression with the divisions: Trockenerfurth Plain Borken Basin Hessengau with the division: Großenenglise Plateau In the municipality of Borken are different rivers and streams. The best known river is the Schwalm and its tributary the Olmes (right side) with Merrebach, Lembach (right side) and Hundsbach (left side). Using municipal area The municipal area are 82.3 square kilometres or 8,230 hectare in metric orientated countries (f.e. Germany). In Anglo Saxon based countries (f.e. United States or United Kingdom) 31.78 square miles or 20,336.77 ar. 11,873.41 ar were used by farming, 4,262.58 ar are forest, buildings for living are used 1,393.67 ar, the roads and railroad are using 1,322.01 ar, waterbodies using 753.67 ar, companies using 363.24 ar, for recreation 108.73 ar and 259.46 ar are nature protection area. In the neighbourhood The next municipals at the “border“ at the area of Borken are in the northwest Fritzlar. In the northeast