Imagine the soft sand between your toes. This is Elsflether Sand. It is a place of transformation and natural beauty. Elsflether Sand began as a Weser island. Today, it is a peninsula. It is a haven for wildlife and recreation.
Elsflether Sand lies where the Hunte River meets the Weser. This location shapes its story. For centuries, the Weser shaped and defined Elsflether Sand. In 1979, the island became a peninsula. This happened due to the construction of flood protection measures. Elsflether Sand became connected to the mainland.
Now, let’s talk about the size of Elsflether Sand. It stretches four kilometers in length. At its widest point, it measures almost one kilometer. A key feature is the Weser dike. It runs through the northern two-thirds of Elsflether Sand.
Elsflether Sand is divided politically. The area north of the dike belongs to Elsfleth. The southern part belongs to Berne. An interesting fact is that the southern third of the Weser beach belongs to Bremen.
What does Elsflether Sand offer? About half of the land is used for agriculture. The other half features bushes, rough grass and sandy beaches. Leuchtfeuer, or beacons, guide ships on the Unterweser. Elsflether Sand plays a crucial role in maritime safety.
Since January 1, 2019, the JadeWeserPort operating company owns Elsflether Sand. They plan to develop it into an ecological compensation area. This is to offset construction in the Voslapper Groden nature reserve. The goal is to improve breeding conditions for birds like the bittern. Other birds that will benefit are the moorhen, bluethroat, water rail, grasshopper warbler and reed warbler.
The agricultural use of Elsflether Sand will stop as the area is transformed. Access to the beaches and the bike path will remain open. This ensures that Elsflether Sand remains a recreational destination.
After the North Sea storm flood of 1962, the Huntesperrwerk was constructed. It is a lock that protects the mouth of the Hunte. Elsfleth wanted to avoid changes to its waterfront. Therefore, the Westergate section was included in the protected area.
You can reach Elsflether Sand by foot or bike. Use the Huntesperrwerk or the Berne side. The Huntesperrwerk allows passage every full hour between 7:00 and 20:00. This depends on ship traffic.
Elsflether Sand is more than just land. It is a dynamic space where nature and human interests meet. Its transformation into a nature paradise continues. This will ensure its value for generations to come.