National Park & Mudflats Hamburg

Three islands are the focal points of the Hamburg Wattenmeer National Park, the smallest of the three Wattenmeer (mudflat) national parks: the lush, green island of Neuwerk (population approx. 40), the dune island of Scharhörn and the artificially created island of Nigehörn. This group of islands in northern Germany lies in the Elbe estuary off Cuxhaven and protects around 12,000 hectares of coastal mudflats.

Visitors can enjoy fascinating tours of the mudflats and go looking for amber. There are large colonies of terns - little, sandwich, common and Arctic. The area also offers a variety of cultural attractions. Guided walks give visitors the opportunity to not only discover the region's natural features but also find out about the islands' historical background.

The history of Neuwerk is especially interesting - its affiliation to Hamburg was documented as far back as 1299. The footpaths on the island lead through verdant countryside to the fortified tower at the mouth of the Elbe, formerly used to combat piracy and a reminder of the Hanseatic era. Between Neuwerk and Scharhörn visitors can walk across mudflats that seem to go on for ever. Seabird colonies are the main attraction on Scharhörn. This unspoilt sandbank has amazing expanses of untouched nature, as does Nigehörn, an artificially created bird colony closed to visitors.

Highlights:

• Carriage rides across the mudflats from Sahlenburg to Neuwerk
• Boat excursions from Cuxhaven to Neuwerk
• Guided walks across the mudflats
• Guided tours - birdlife, salt marshes and mudflats - on Neuwerk
• Guided tours to the bird island of Scharhörn
• Search for amber on Kleiner Vogelsand
• Amber exhibition on Neuwerk

Activities:
One recommendation for day trippers to the national park is a walk along the main dyke. This offers views of the foreshore and its bird colonies as well as the island itself.
As motor vehicles are not permitted on the island, tours are on foot or by horse-drawn carriage, for example to Neuwerk's fortified tower, across the bio-diverse salt marshes or to Ostschleuse lock.