North Sea Coast Attractions

The whole of the North Sea coast from the Danish frontier to the Elbe estuary, together with the North Frisian Islands, now form the Schleswig-Holstein Wattenmeer National Park. Southwest of this extends the Lower Saxon Wattenmeer National Park, which takes in the East Frisian Islands. Thus the German North Sea coast is an almost continuous protected area, interrupted only by the main shipping lanes.

"Watt" is the name given to a coastal strip of land which at low tide is dry and at high tide is covered by the Wattenmeer. Along the German North Sea coast the Watt is between 7 and 10km (4.5 and 6.5mi) wide, most of it lying inshore of the North and East Frisian Islands.WarningAt low tide the Watt may look a tempting area for a walk, but it can be dangerous. In some parts of this flat coastal area the tide comes in with incredible speed, and visitors can easily be caught by the advancing waves, which move fast. Walking in the Watt, therefore, should only be undertaken with a knowledgeable guide, or at least after consulting the local tide tables.Flora and faunaThe unusual natural conditions in the Watt have given rise to an abundance of highly specialized forms of life. The Watt bottom consists of recent marine deposits (sand, silt, clay) with a high proportion of organic substances, which form the first link in the food chain. The Watt has little in the way of plant life: near high-water mark there are glassworts (Salicornia europea), farther seaward eelworts (Zostera), and occasionally also algae and seaweed. Most forms of animal life, therefore, have adjusted to the movement of the tides, either burying themselves in the ground at low tide or living permanently there. Only a few shellfish manage to survive above ground by storing water in their shells. Most of the denizens of the Watt (worms, shellfish, crustaceans) feed on organic substances floating in the water or lying on the bottom which they absorb in the water they breathe in or take in on the surface of the Watt. Some shellfish, shrimps and bristle worms are predators or scavengers.

Situation and characteristicsWilhelmshaven, situated on the west side of Jade Bay, a 5km/3mi wide inlet on the North Sea coast, was until 1945 primarily a naval port. It is now an important oil terminal and has a variety of industry (chemicals, metalworking, engineering, textiles). It has a Marine Biological Research Station belonging to the Senckenberg Society and an Ornithological Institute.