Wadden Sea National Park

Wadden Sea National Park (Danish: Nationalpark Vadehavet) is a large area stretching the entire west coast of South Jutland of Denmark. It's listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Understand
The Wadden Sea is the largest tidal flats system in the world, stretching from Denmark, through Germany, and well into the Netherlands. Because of its unique biodiversity and intact intertidal ecosystem, the Wadden Sea was designated as an international UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014.

History
The Danish parts of the Wadden Sea, has been protected nature since 2010, when it became a national park. The Wadden Sea National Park is by far the largest of Denmark's national parks, outside of Greenland, reaching from Ho Bugt in the north, right to the German border, and includes the islands of Fanø, Mandø and Rømø, as well as Skallingen, the Varde Å valley, and many of the marshlands of Tjæreborgmarsken, Ribemarsken, Margrethekogen and De Ydre Diger in Tøndermarsken.

Landscape
Almost all (97%) of the national park is part of the European Natura 2000 nature protection, divided into several projects: important bird sanctuary, important wildlife sanctuary, and Ramsar wetlands of international importance. The Wadden Sea National Park comprise biomes such as low-lying flat coast, tidal channels, tidal flats, stream mouths, beach meadows, sandplains and dunes.

Flora and fauna
More than 10 million migratory birds pass through the Danish parts of the Wadden Sea twice a year, signifying the area's international importance. Large flocks of European starlings can be experienced flying in peculiar huge group-formations known as 'black sun formation', a truly special natural phenomenon. The Wadden Sea is also home to large numbers of breeding birds, fish, and invertebrates such as starfish and blue mussels, and it provides habitat for more than 500 species of plants and animals.

Get around
The Wadden Sea landscape and nature can be experienced in many ways; hiking, on a bicycle, in a canoe, from the deck of a historic wooden ship, or other regular guided tours of various sorts. Go to the Wadden Sea Visitor Centre to learn more about your options.

The North Sea Trail passes through the entire length of the national park, often right behind the dikes.

See
Experience the Danish islands of the Wadden Sea:


 * Fanø
 * Mandø
 * Rømø

Hike or bike through the Wadden Sea coastal Marshlands.

Do



 * Seal safari - participate in a seal safari. Seals are common on the tidal flats, where food is plentiful and they can rest undisturbed in the sun.

Buy, eat, drink, and sleep
See listings in the Fanø and Rømø articles.

Go next
Extend your Wadden Sea experience and go to the German side of this World Heritage Site.