Fine sandy beach in the west, extensive Wadden Sea in the east
The Hörnum nature
3
sides are surrounded by the sea
7,5
Kilometers of beach
8.000
Our dunes have existed for years
10.000
various plant and animal species
The Hörnum-Odde
A very special dune and heath landscape on the southern tip of Sylt.
With its deeply incised, semi-open dune valleys and rare sand and salt marshes, the Odde offers a refuge for flora and fauna. However, the unspoiled landscape is constantly changing—especially in years prone to storm surges.
The Hörnum-Odde Nature Reserve is technically defined as a "coastal dune area with both plant-grown and vegetation-free dune formations." Hörnum-Odde is surrounded by dunes that are particularly typical of the coastal landscape. The youngest Sylt dune formations are approximately 3000 years old, the oldest up to 8000 years old.
The southern tip can only be circumnavigated at low tide. The hike takes about an hour, depending on your starting point.
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Tip: Start the walk on the west side, for example at Süderende/Odde-Wei. The end point is the harbor, where a delicious coffee or fish sandwich awaits you.
Sylt's southern tip in pictures
The UNESCO World Heritage Wadden Sea
in Hörnum
The Wadden Sea was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2009, partly because the area, which was created after the last ice age, still contains landscapes in all stages of development.
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Nature, plants, and animals continually adapt to the daily changing conditions. The Wadden Sea is also unique in the world because it is home to around 10.000 different plant and animal species.
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Using a free app or via tablet and PC, North Sea visitors can identify all kinds of beach finds. From eels to little gulls, nearly 2.000 different creatures and objects are presented. https://www.beachexplorer.de
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Typical migratory and breeding birds of the Wadden Sea can be found on the sand spit on Hörnum's eastern beach. You can experience the UNESCO World Heritage Wadden Sea up close on a guided tour of the Wadden Sea Conservation Station.
Experience the Wadden Sea up close
How does the tide work? And how do plants survive on sea salt? Why is the plaice flat, and how do you catch a shore crab? And what is a tree worm? And what does the "Sylter Royal" have to do with mussels?
You can get answers to these questions at a WattwanderungWith trained national park mudflat guides, you have the opportunity to walk barefoot into the mudflats and explore everything.
3 times sea
Beaches on every side of the town
Surrounded by beach and sea on three sides, Hörnum offers something for everyone. The east side is quiet and family-friendly, equipped with trampolines, volleyball nets, and soccer goals. On the west side, you'll find surf and waves ideal for surfing. The southern tip, on the other hand, has strong currents and is perfect for hiking, where seals can often be spotted. During the season, there are 15 beach areas available, monitored by lifeguards, so you can relax and unwind.
7 kilometers of beach
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Quiet east beach & wave-rich west beach
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Textile and nudist beaches
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3 dog beaches
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Beach chairs in season at all beach sections
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Lifeguards on duty during the season
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Beach facilities and public toilets on most beaches
The seal banks off Sylt
In addition to harbor seals, the Wadden Sea National Park is also home to the grey seal – which only resettled here in the late 80s! These animals' impressive resting places are located directly off Hörnum. Jungnamensand, a small sandbank west of the island of Amrum, is a particularly protected resting place for grey seals in the Wadden Sea National Park.
The best way to see the most comfortable animals of the North Sea is on a trip with the Eagle ships to the seal banks from Hörnum.
A hike around the Odde often offers the chance to observe wild animals in the water. The harbor seals and grey seals are very curious and sometimes come incredibly close to the shore.
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Did you know that the grey seal is the largest predator in Germany?
Seal found on the beach, what to do?
Important: Not every seemingly abandoned seal pup is actually orphaned. In most cases, the mother is hunting or has been temporarily separated from her pup due to disturbances. The so-called howl, which pups make, is a sound with which the pup calls to its mother. It does not necessarily mean that the animal is abandoned. The following rules of conduct must be observed:
- Do not touch or feed the howler.
- Leave the location.
- Keep the path to the water clear so that the mother can reach the young animal.
- Keep a distance of at least 300 meters.
- Keep dogs on a leash and away.
- The protection station Wadden Sea Ark Contact by phone. Only experts can assess whether the animal needs help.
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According to the Norddeich Seal Station, emergencies only need to be reported between June and August. After that, the animals are already independent and only need help if they are obviously injured.
The Nature Conservation Center
Wadden Sea Ark
The Nature Experience Center, located in the former Hörnum church, offers a spacious and family-friendly exhibition on the Wadden Sea National Park, spread over two floors, with numerous aquariums and a walk-through wooden ark. Since 2013, children and adults have been learning fascinating facts about the flora and fauna of the island of Sylt. In addition to the permanent exhibition, attractive special exhibitions on various topics are presented. These are included in the admission price. It's an ideal destination for any weather.
In Hörnum, the Arche manages the Wadden Sea National Park on the mudflat side, the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea nature reserve (NSG) with the Hörnum Spit (bird sanctuary) as well as the dune conservation areas around the town (landscape conservation area, LSG) and at the southern tip, the Hörnum Odde (nature reserve, NSG).
Their work includes important research and nature conservation tasks such as: various environmental education events, protection of the seabird resting place, mapping of the mudflat animals in March and August, recording of porpoise sightings on the sea side, reporting chain for the recovery of dead porpoises and seals and addressing dog owners with reminders of the leash requirement in nature reserves and in the national park.
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Rantumer Straße 33, 25997 Hörnum
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04651 - 8862229
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hoernum@schutzstation-wattenmeer.de
