Wadden Sea

Wadden Sea

The Wadden Sea of the North Sea extends along a 500 kms between the Dutch Den Helder and the Danish Esbjerg. The Wadden Sea is the biggest coherent habitat of its kind and one of the last unspoiled countrysides in Europe. According to biologists, the Wadden Sea is a lifeless area where tide occurs. Others feel it is the area which is dry at low tide and floods again. The Wadden Sea includes salt marshes along the coastline as well as islands and dunes on the North Sea. There are primarily three habitats here.

Tidelands

Although the mud flats in the Wadden Sea comprise a part of the habitat of the tide land, the entire area of the Wadden Sea. The mud flats consist of the areas which are flooded twice a day and fall dry again. On the other hand, there are the tideways, channels and shipping lines which are responsible for flooding and draining. The mud flats are known for their low inclination. They are divided according to their type of sediment, and their geographical location.

Salt Marshes

The salt marshes with the area of sedimentation in the Wadden Sea join the mud flats and the mainland. These areas are no longer flooded regularly, due to more sedimentation than erosion. This is one of the reasons as to why plant growth is facilitated here.

Sand Beaches, Isles and Dunes

There is a belt of seven larger inhabited, some smaller and unoccupied dune islands. These had originated from a sand wall that has collapsed off the Dutch coast. The North Friesian Islands are remnants of the former island that were broken in storm catastrophes during the Middle Ages. With sandbanks and reefs, the dune islands form a barrier system moderating storm tides, currents and tidal waves.

The Wadden Sea is famed for the rich fauna, avifauna and flora. This is the reason as to why it is protected by the collective effort of Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark.

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