Sylt

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The German island of Sylt is located in the North Sea off the west coast of Germany and Denmark.

A high-altitude view of Sylt.

Sylt (Danish: Sild; Söl'ring North Frisian: Söl' ) is an island in northern Germany, part of Nordfrieslanddistrict, Schleswig-Holstein. It belongs to the North Frisian Islands. The island was once part of the mainland, and is still shrinking owing to erosion by the North Sea. Sylt's area is 99 km². The distance from north to south is 35 km and from west to east 13 km. The highest point is 52 meters. The island has 21,000 inhabitants.

[edit] The Culture of Sylt

Sylt is a unique part of Germany, since it is part of the Frisian Islands. It has its own dialect, Söl'ring, which is the indigenous speech of Sylt. Söl'ring is a unique dialect of insular North Frisian, with elements of Danish, Dutch and English. However, due to mass immigration only a small fraction of the population speaks the dialect.

As in many areas in Schleswig-Holstein on New Year's Eve, groups of children go masked from house to house, reciting poems. This is known as Rummelpottlaufen, and as a reward, children receive sweets and/or money.

Sylt also has unique Frisian-style houses.

[edit] History

Sylt was originally part of Jutland (today Denmark and Schleswig-Holstein)
There is evidence of human habitation going back to 3,000 BC at Denghoog
Hengist and Horsa embark from Sylt for England in the 5th century
First settlements of Frisians during the 8th century and 9th century
Sylt was divided between the Duke of Schleswig and the Kingdom of Denmark in 1386
Except for the town of List, Sylt becomes part of the Duchy of Schleswig in 1435
During the 17th century and 18th century, whaling, fishing and oyster breeding increase the wealth of the population
Keitum becomes capital of the island, and a place for rich captains to settle down
In the 19th century, tourism starts; Westerland replaces Keitum as the capital
During World War I, Sylt becomes a military outpost, but does not suffer from war damage
In 1927, a rail causeway to the mainland is built, named after Paul von Hindenburg
During World War II, Sylt becomes a fortress, with concrete bunkers built below the dunes at the shore, some of which are still visible today. Lager Sylt, the concentration camp on Alderney was named after it.

Today, Sylt is mainly a tourist attraction, famous for its healthy climate, and several German celebrities who own houses on the island.

[edit] Municipalities

[edit] List

A view of sand dunes and beaches near List

List has a harbor (ferries to Rømø, Denmark) and is Germany's northernmost point. It has a population of about 2,500 (as of 2000). It was first mentioned in 1292 and was Danish territory until 1864. The German Luftwaffe (Airforce) used List as an airbase. List is famous for oysters.

[edit] Kampen

Kampen is known for the Red Cliff and its fine lifestyle.www.kampen.de

[edit] Hörnum

Hörnum is Sylt's southernmost community.

[edit] Rantum

[edit] Wenningstedt

Wenningstedt is known for the red cliff and the Denghoog stone grave, a walk-in grave made of huge stone walls from 3000 BC.

[edit] Braderup

Braderup, located between Wenningstedt, Kampen, and Munkmarsh, has a beautiful heath (Heide) and is quite wild.

[edit] Westerland

A beach in Westerland

After the destruction of the town of Eidum on November 1, 1436, in a great flood (Allerheiligenflut), the survivors moved to a place northeast (Wäästerlön in Söl'ring) of the original town. The new town was first mentioned in 1462. It officially became a town in 1905. The population (as of 2000) is 9,200. The town has the island's only civil airport.

[edit] Sylt-Ost

Sylt-Ost (East Sylt) is a township, consisting of several small villages on the Nössehalbinsel on Sylt. The population (as of 2000) is 5,500. The villages include Tinnum, Munkmarsch, Archsum, Morsum and Keitum.

[edit] Tinnum

Tinnum castle (Tinnumburg) is a circular parapet with a diameter of 120 meters and a height of 8 meters. It was built in the 1st century BC, likely as a pagan holy site.

[edit] Keitum

Keitum has a historical church (St. Severin church), dating back to the 1200s. The green cliff is also located near Keitum.

[edit] Munkmarsch

[edit] Archsum

[edit] Morsum

Morsum has an historical church (St. Martin church), dating back to the same era as the one in Keitum. Morsum is also known for the red cliff, that shows the geological history of the last five million years on its height of 21 meters. It has been under landscape conservation since 1923.

[edit] Transport

Sylt is connected to the German mainland by the Hindenburgdamm, a causeway. There is a railway line built on this and passenger trains connect Westerland to Niebüll or Klanxbüll. There is also the option of taking one's car onto the train at Niebüll. There are also ferry services to the nearby Danish island of Rømø and also Sylt Airport serves the region.