Landunter of Hallig Langeness, Rixwarft, Biosphere Reserve Halligen, Germany
The Northfrisian "Halligen" Langeneß, Nordstrandischmoor, Gröde, Hooge and Oland off the coast of Schleswig-Holstein were 2009 recognized by UNESCO as a "Biosphere reserve Wadden and Halligen" within the National Park Wadden Sea Schleswig-Holstein. The Halligen are flat islands of saltmarshes, where since centuries people live on hills ("warfts") manmade of clay. Today, the people on the Halligen, which are used to several floodings of their land ("Landunter") every year, live of coastal protection work, agriculture and tourism. The Halligen are a valuable natural and cultural heritage, as well as indispensable breakwaters for the coast of Schleswig-Holstein. Sea level rise due to climate change is a threat to these flat islands.
Year: 2012
From album: Wadden Sea
Photographer: This