sand dunes

Dune landscape on Sylt

Red and white lighthouse in dune landscape at sunset. — © Rainer Mirau | Sylt Marketing

Where wind and sand shape the landscape

Dunes are fascinating and for the Coastal protection on Sylt indispensable landscape forms. They shape the image of the North Sea island and reliably protect it from Wind, storm surges and erosion.

How the impressive sand giants form, why they migrate, and which plants and animals live in this sensitive ecosystem are among the exciting questions of Sylt's natural history. While exploring the island, different types of dunes Discover: From the shifting dunes off List to the permanently vegetated dunes on the island's west coast. Each of these forms tells its own story and highlights how dynamic and, at the same time, worthy of protection Sylt's nature truly is.

Shifting dunes

The Sylt Sahara

The shifting dunes west of List are driven by the wind and move at a speed of around four meters per year to the east. Only in the east were the spurs stopped by planting to prevent them from covering the adjacent country road with sand.
For most people, the area of the shifting dunes is “Terra Incognita.” And it will remain so, because the Access is strictly limited.
The Natural Forces Adventure Centre offers several times a year exclusive hikes to the foot of the largest shifting dune.

The shifting dunes are…

later

wide

hoch

More about the shifting dune in List

The different types of dunes

Dunes are fascinating landforms made up of wind-blown sand that cover almost a third of the island.

Foredune

Dry sand is blown by the wind and accumulates small obstacles such as shells If the area remains dry, a sand hill will gradually form. salt-tolerant beach grass colonizes this area first.
With its strong roots it holds the sand in place, gradually forming primary dunes up to one meter high.

white dunes

White dunes are formed when Rain washes the salt out of the mini dune and yourself Marram grass settlesThe wind constantly brings new sand, which is held in place by the deep-rooted grass. The sand piles up into dunes up to 20 meters high.
Typical on the west coast between Wenningstedt and Kampen.

Beach and dune landscape at Ellenbogen on Sylt in the evening light. — © Rainer Mirau | Sylt Marketing

Grey Dune

Grey dunes are formed when no new nutrients more are supplied and the Soil acidifiesThe marram grass disappears, replaced by lean-tolerant plants such as red fescue, sand thistle, and colorful flowering herbs. A thin layer of humus forms, allowing the first shrubs, such as the dune willow, to establish themselves.

brown dunes

Brown dunes are the oldest sand dunes of the island. They develop on more nutrient-rich soil and bear typical vegetation such as Crowberry and heatherWet areas provide habitat for mosses, grasses, and violets. In protected dune valleys, even small forests and wetlands can form. Brown dunes occur almost along the entire Sylt's west coast .

A vast, grassy dune landscape gently slopes down to the sea. The sea is visible in the background under a cloudy sky. — © Peter Bender | Sylt Marketing

Rum Hart, Klar Kimming!

Wide heart, clear horizon

Viewing dunes

View with sea

Open the 'Uwe Düne' detail page
Dinah Boysen | TSK | CC BY SA
Uwe Dune
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Viewpoints/towers
Zur Uwe Düne/Westerweg, 25999 Kampen
Open the 'Stairway to Heaven' detail page
Lynn Scotti I Sylt Marketing | CC BY SA
ladder to heaven
Now little visited
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Beach stairs
Gaadt, 25980 Sylt/Westerland
Open the 'Viewing dune at Lister Weststrand' detail page
Lynn Scotti | Sylt Marketing | CC BY SA
Viewing dune at Lister Weststrand
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Viewpoints/towers
Weststrandstraße 333, 25992 List on Sylt
Open the detail page 'Viewing dune at the northern entrance to the town'
Marie Pohl | CC BY SA
Viewing dune at the northern entrance to the town
Now little visited
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Viewpoints/towers
Mövenbergstraße, 25992 List on Sylt
Open the 'Berthin-Bleeg-Straße viewing platform' detail page
TSWB | CC BY SA
Berthin-Bleeg-Straße viewing platform
Now little visited
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Viewpoints/towers
Berthin-Bleeg-Straße, 25996 Wenningstedt-Braderup
Open the 'Müwennest Viewpoint' detail page
© Lynn Scotti | Sylt Marketing
Seagull's Nest lookout point
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Viewpoints/towers
Osterende 6, 25997 Hörnum

Dunes as coastal protection

Dunes protect Sylt:
For centuries

On Sylt, dunes are not only a defining feature of the landscape, but also essential for coastal protection. natural barrier against storm surges They protect the island's interior from erosion. As early as the 17th century, the people of Sylt began deliberately stabilizing these sand formations, using, among other things, beach rye from Holland. This tradition continues to this day. Cultivation with robust beach grass In spring and autumn the dunes are sustainably stabilized.

The protection of these sensitive habitats is a top priority. Large parts of the dunes are under Nature Conservation and may only be used on designated paths Around 40 kilometers of boardwalks and gravel paths, as well as over 80 beach crossings on the west coast, direct visitor traffic.

A modern guidance system replaces the former trails, which once covered more than 700 kilometers. The clear principle is: Dune protection is island protection.

Rules & information for the protection of the dune landscape

Only walk on marked paths
Please keep dogs on a leash
Do not use trails
Do not enter or damage dunes
 The 80 official beach crossings use

Every track off the paths harms the natural coastal protection.

Dune tours

The Natural Forces Adventure Center Sylt organizes regular guided tours through the Lister dune landscape, several times a year to the foot of the largest shifting dune the island.

further tours