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The Wadden Sea - A Vast Shimmering Plain
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- A "Hallig" is an island that nearly disappears during high tide.
- (© picture-alliance/dpa)
When the sun creeps up over the North Sea dyke in the morning, the mudflats turn radiant. That is when, says Wadden Sea National Park ranger Rolf Suppe, "the Halligen seem to float above the horizon - lined up like pearls on a string while the heavens are alight in glowing colours."
The Halligen are flat islands which may seem to disappear during high tide only to reappear to rise higher from the the water during ebb tide, and on such islands there may be four or five houses. This picturesque seascape fascinates not only artists and people seeking relaxation, but also is a cause which nature preservationists have taken up.
The North Sea mudflats of the Wadden Sea are the largest of their kind in the world and at the same time, one of the most fertile regions. Over 3,200 species make live in the area. On just 1000 square feet of this sea mud, an astonishing variety of mussels, snails, worms, algae, and tiny crabs make up a bio-mass of three to 12 tons.
"That is more than in a primeval forest," points out Monika Hecker, press officer for the National Park office in Tönning.
At the same time, the Wadden Sea area, criss-crossed and lined with channels, gullies, sand banks, dunes and marshlands, is a sensitive ecological system. To protect the mudflats the three littoral countries - Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark - have established large areas as special protection zones.
A walk on the water
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- A hike on the Wattenmeer can mean muddy feet.
- (© picture-alliance/dpa)
The Wadden Sea forms a narrow strip along the coast. Running up to 6 miles wide, it stretches from Denmark's Esbjerg some 280 miles southwards past the estuaries of the Elbe, Weser and Ems rivers of Germany down to Den Helder in the Netherlands. About 60 percent of the total area, or some 1800 square miles - are laid dry in the tidal rhythms twice a day.
When the mudflats are exposed, a window opens for visitors to explore this stunning seascape on foot. Armed with compasses and tide tables, expert guides from local naturalist organizsations offer tours of the mudflats, which provide a glimpse into a world usually hidden underwater.
A hike on the mudflats is called "Wattwanderung", and it's a great way to get a closer look at the stunning diversity of life on the Wadden sea, especially the masses of migratory birds that arrive each autumn on their way south.
It is also possible to hike across the Wadden Sea to the windswept Frisian Islands, with their picturesque fishing villages and protected, dune-covered beaches.
Visitors are only allowed to traverse the mudflats on foot with the aide of a licensed guide, since rising water can quickly surprise hikers who lose their way. Proper footwear is also a must - in some places, the sea floor is a muddy soup filled with razor sharp mussels. In other areas the sand is packed as hard as concrete, which allows for barefoot hiking.
Those willing to take the journey are rewarded with views of an otherworldly landscape, clean crisp air and plenty of peace and quiet.
Article based on materials from dpa
