Lütje Hörn
Encyclopedia
Lütje Hörn is an uninhabited East Frisian Island in the North Sea
. It belongs to Germany
and is located approximately 3 to 4 kilometres southeast of Borkum
in the East Frisia
n Randzelwatt. Lütje Hörn is an unincorporated area
of Leer
district in Lower Saxony
.
Due to erosion Lütje Horn has continuously lost surface area. The size of the island was still relatively stable in the first half of last century: in 1891 it had an area of 61 hectares and, in 1937, 54 hectares. In 1957 the high-water free area was still 58 hectares, including about one acre of large dunes. The storm surge of February 1962 caused a significant loss of land and dune erosion, and further losses were incurred by the winter storm surges
of 1989/1990. In 1987, the area above the mean high-water mark was only 23 hectares, a few years later it had reduced to just 11 hectares. According to the Lower Saxon Department for Water, Coastal and Nature Conservation (NLWKN), Lütje Horn had a flood-free area of approximately 6.5 hectares in summer 2006.
and is a bird protection island. There are no buildings on the island.
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
. It belongs to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and is located approximately 3 to 4 kilometres southeast of Borkum
Borkum
Borkum is an island and a municipality in the Leer District in Lower Saxony, northwestern Germany.-Geography:Borkum is bordered to the west by the Westerems strait , to the east by the Osterems strait, to the north by the North Sea, and to the south by the Wadden Sea...
in the East Frisia
East Frisia
East Frisia or Eastern Friesland is a coastal region in the northwest of the German federal state of Lower Saxony....
n Randzelwatt. Lütje Hörn is an unincorporated area
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
of Leer
Leer (district)
Leer is a district in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is bounded by the city of Emden, the districts of Aurich, Wittmund, Friesland, Ammerland, Cloppenburg and Emsland, and by the Netherlands ....
district in Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...
.
History
Lütje Hörn was first mentioned in 1576 as Hooghe Hörn in a sailing guide. Since 1859 the island has been shown in topographical maps on the mudflats (Watt) southeast of Borkum.Geography
In contrast to all other East Frisian islands, Lütje Horn is aligned in a north-south direction. This is due to the location of the island in the eastern channel of the Ems. Since the first documentary records the location of the island has moved about two kilometres further to the southeast. In just under 40 years, between 1961 and 1999, the island shifted about 600 metres east and 150 metres south. This corresponds to a speed of 15 metres per year eastwards and four metres per year southwards. Between 1999 to 2005, the island continued to migrate eastwards by another 100 metres.Due to erosion Lütje Horn has continuously lost surface area. The size of the island was still relatively stable in the first half of last century: in 1891 it had an area of 61 hectares and, in 1937, 54 hectares. In 1957 the high-water free area was still 58 hectares, including about one acre of large dunes. The storm surge of February 1962 caused a significant loss of land and dune erosion, and further losses were incurred by the winter storm surges
Storm surge
A storm surge is an offshore rise of water associated with a low pressure weather system, typically tropical cyclones and strong extratropical cyclones. Storm surges are caused primarily by high winds pushing on the ocean's surface. The wind causes the water to pile up higher than the ordinary sea...
of 1989/1990. In 1987, the area above the mean high-water mark was only 23 hectares, a few years later it had reduced to just 11 hectares. According to the Lower Saxon Department for Water, Coastal and Nature Conservation (NLWKN), Lütje Horn had a flood-free area of approximately 6.5 hectares in summer 2006.
Access
The island can only be visited with the approval of the National Park Administration, because it belongs to Zone I of the Wadden Sea National ParksWadden Sea National Parks
The Wadden Sea National Parks, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are located along the German coast of the North Sea. Named after the Wadden Sea, they consist of three national parks:...
and is a bird protection island. There are no buildings on the island.