Wadden Sea National Park (Nationalpark Vadehavet) was created as a Danish national park on January 17, 2008, and became active in 2010. It is the largest national park in Denmark outside of Greenland. The park covers the Danish section of the Wadden Sea, starting from Ho Bugt to the border with Germany. It includes islands such as Fanø, Mandø, and Rømø, as well as areas like Skallingen, the Varde Å valley, and marshlands in Tjæreborgmarsken, Ribemarsken, Margrethekogen, and De Ydre Diger in Tøndermarsken.
The Wadden Sea is famous worldwide as a place where millions of migratory birds rest. Over 10 million birds pass through the area twice each year. Large groups of European starlings often fly together in patterns called "sort sol." The Wadden Sea also supports many breeding birds, fish, and invertebrates like starfish and blue mussels. It is home to more than 500 species of plants and animals. Because of its rich biodiversity and well-preserved intertidal ecosystem, the Danish part of the Wadden Sea became part of the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site in 2014. Prince Joachim of Denmark is the Patron of the Wadden Sea Centre.
Ninety-seven percent of the national park is included in Natura 2000, which is divided into several protected areas: a bird sanctuary, a wildlife sanctuary, and Ramsar wetlands of international importance. These areas include ecosystems such as flat coastal regions, tidal channels, tidal flats, river mouths, beach meadows, sandplains, and dunes.
Motivation
The main reasons for creating Wadden Sea National Park in Denmark are to support:
- Protection of nature
- Preservation of history and culture
- Opportunities for outdoor activities
- Learning and scientific studies
- Collaboration with other countries