Leybucht
Encyclopedia
The Leybucht is the second largest bay in East Frisia
in northwest Germany after the Dollart
. The Jade Bight is larger than both, but belongs historically to Oldenburg.
and Norddeich
, about 18 kilometres north of Emden
and 25 kilometres west of the county town of Aurich
.
It has an area of about 19 km².
in the west to Marienhafe
in the east and from the edge of the town of Norden as far as Canhusen (in the municipality of Hinte
) in the south. In the following centuries, more and more dykes
were built to create polders, so that by 1950 the bay had been reduced to its present size. The last land reclamation took place in 1947-1950 with the construction of the Störtebeker dyke, which enclosed the Leybucht Polder and the coast line was straigtened. In the following years there were plans to reclaim the entire bay in order to shorten the line of dykes significantly and to improve coastal protection. This measure was eventually rejected on nature conservation grounds.. Only a few, small coastal defence
measures were implemented (e. g. the reclamation of the Leyhörn in 1991).
To reinforce the dyke system the first preparations began in 1985 to build the New Störtebeker Dyke (Neue Störtebekerdeichesitungen) which was completed in 2000, and which was laid out in front of the old dyke, the salt marsh
es in front of it being largely saved.
(Nationalpark Niedersächsisches Wattenmeer) and belongs to Zone I. It enjoys special protection, not least because of the fauna and flora of its salt marshes.
The Leybucht Polder was settled in the 1950s and is a village in the borough of Norden.
The most important tourist resort on the Leybucht is the 'Siel village of Greetsiel
.
East Frisia
East Frisia or Eastern Friesland is a coastal region in the northwest of the German federal state of Lower Saxony....
in northwest Germany after the Dollart
Dollart
The Dollart is a bay between northern Netherlands and Germany, on the west side of the estuary of the Ems river. Most of it dries at low tide. Many water birds feed there.- Gaining from and losing to the sea :...
. The Jade Bight is larger than both, but belongs historically to Oldenburg.
Location
The Leybucht lies in western East Frisia between the port of GreetsielGreetsiel
Greetsiel is a small port on the bight of Leybucht in western East Frisia, Germany that was first documented in letters from the year 1388. Since 1972, Greetsiel has been part of the municipality of Krummhörn, which has its administrative seat in Pewsum...
and Norddeich
Norddeich (Norden)
Norddeich is a village in the borough of Norden in north Germany with 1,734 inhabitants. It lies in northwestern East Frisia on the North Sea coast....
, about 18 kilometres north of Emden
Emden
Emden is a city and seaport in the northwest of Germany, on the river Ems. It is the main city of the region of East Frisia; in 2006, the city had a total population of 51,692.-History:...
and 25 kilometres west of the county town of Aurich
Aurich
Aurich is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Aurich.-History:The history of Aurich dates back to the 13th century, when the settlement of Aurechove was mentioned in a Frisian document called the Brokmerbrief in 1276. In 1517, Count Edzard from the house of...
.
It has an area of about 19 km².
History
Following the storm surges of 1374 and 1376 the bay attained its maximum extent with an area of 129 km² and stretched from GreetsielGreetsiel
Greetsiel is a small port on the bight of Leybucht in western East Frisia, Germany that was first documented in letters from the year 1388. Since 1972, Greetsiel has been part of the municipality of Krummhörn, which has its administrative seat in Pewsum...
in the west to Marienhafe
Marienhafe
Marienhafe is a municipality in the district of Aurich, in Lower Saxony, Germany....
in the east and from the edge of the town of Norden as far as Canhusen (in the municipality of Hinte
Hinte
Hinte is a village and a municipality in the district of Aurich, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approx. 20 km south of Norden, and 6 km north of Emden....
) in the south. In the following centuries, more and more dykes
Levee
A levee, levée, dike , embankment, floodbank or stopbank is an elongated naturally occurring ridge or artificially constructed fill or wall, which regulates water levels...
were built to create polders, so that by 1950 the bay had been reduced to its present size. The last land reclamation took place in 1947-1950 with the construction of the Störtebeker dyke, which enclosed the Leybucht Polder and the coast line was straigtened. In the following years there were plans to reclaim the entire bay in order to shorten the line of dykes significantly and to improve coastal protection. This measure was eventually rejected on nature conservation grounds.. Only a few, small coastal defence
Coastal management
In some jurisdictions the terms sea defense and coastal protection are used to mean, respectively, defense against flooding and erosion...
measures were implemented (e. g. the reclamation of the Leyhörn in 1991).
To reinforce the dyke system the first preparations began in 1985 to build the New Störtebeker Dyke (Neue Störtebekerdeichesitungen) which was completed in 2000, and which was laid out in front of the old dyke, the salt marsh
Salt marsh
A salt marsh is an environment in the upper coastal intertidal zone between land and salt water or brackish water, it is dominated by dense stands of halophytic plants such as herbs, grasses, or low shrubs. These plants are terrestrial in origin and are essential to the stability of the salt marsh...
es in front of it being largely saved.
Present situation
The Leybucht lies in the Lower Saxon Wadden Sea National ParkLower Saxon Wadden Sea National Park
The Lower Saxon Wadden Sea National Park was established in 1986 and embraces the East Frisian Islands, mudflats and salt marshes between the Bay of Dollart on the border with the Netherlands in the west and Cuxhaven as far as the Outer Elbe shipping channel in the east. The national park has an...
(Nationalpark Niedersächsisches Wattenmeer) and belongs to Zone I. It enjoys special protection, not least because of the fauna and flora of its salt marshes.
The Leybucht Polder was settled in the 1950s and is a village in the borough of Norden.
The most important tourist resort on the Leybucht is the 'Siel village of Greetsiel
Greetsiel
Greetsiel is a small port on the bight of Leybucht in western East Frisia, Germany that was first documented in letters from the year 1388. Since 1972, Greetsiel has been part of the municipality of Krummhörn, which has its administrative seat in Pewsum...
.