In the time of Viking raids small ring-like castles were built in order to protect the defenceless hamlets.

The counts established strongholds in the region, which was the frontier against the lands of the untamable Frisians.

Ammerland is characterised by a very flat countryside, many fens and swamps, and many windmills.

The central point of the district is the Zwischenahner Meer located near the resort town of Bad Zwischenahn, a lake with an area of 5.5 km2 (Meer is the German word for "sea", but in the local Low German, as in Dutch, it means mere (lake), pond).

The coat-of-arms displays: Its blazon is: "Quarterly Or and Azure, I: two bars Gules; II: a Greek cross Or; III: an oak stem with leaf and acorn Or; IV: two bars dancetty Gules".