Vigelsø
Encyclopedia
Vigelsø is a small, uninhabited island in Odense Fjord
, off the coast of Funen
, Denmark
. With an area of 132 hectare
s, it is the largest island in the fjord and an important breeding ground for watergowl and rest stop for migratory birds. It is part of the Special Area of Conservation
No. SPC 94, Odense Fjord under the EU
Habitat and Birds Directive
s.
island separated from the smaller islands of Store and Lille Ægholm to the south by a shallow-watered area. In 1873 this area was reclaimed and the island's size was roughly doubled.
In 1990 the Danish Ministry for the Environment
acquired the island to conduct ecological restoration
and reforestation
.
s.
There is a 2.5 km walking trail in the forest while the southern part is closed to human traffic to protect the bird life which is sensitive to human disturbance. The birds can be observed from an observation tower
and a hide. There is a primitive camp site on the island.
Odense Fjord
Odense Fjord is a 13 km long fjord on the northern part of the Danish island of Funen.It covers an area of about 63 km².- Geography :The city of Odense is connected with the fjord through the Odense Canal. The Odense River ends in the fjord at Stige and Seden.The main islands in the fjord are...
, off the coast of Funen
Funen
Funen , with a size of 2,984 km² , is the third-largest island of Denmark following Zealand and Vendsyssel-Thy, and the 163rd largest island of the world. Funen is located in the central part of the country and has a population of 454,358 inhabitants . The main city is Odense, connected to the...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. With an area of 132 hectare
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
s, it is the largest island in the fjord and an important breeding ground for watergowl and rest stop for migratory birds. It is part of the Special Area of Conservation
Special Area of Conservation
A Special Area of Conservation is defined in the European Union's Habitats Directive , also known as the Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora...
No. SPC 94, Odense Fjord under the EU
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
Habitat and Birds Directive
Birds Directive
The Birds Directive is a European Union directive adopted in 2009. It replaces Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds which was modified several times and had become very unclear...
s.
History
Archeological findings have documented human activity on the island from the earliest times. Originally the island was a 66 hectares glacial moraineMoraine
A moraine is any glacially formed accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris which can occur in currently glaciated and formerly glaciated regions, such as those areas acted upon by a past glacial maximum. This debris may have been plucked off a valley floor as a glacier advanced or it may have...
island separated from the smaller islands of Store and Lille Ægholm to the south by a shallow-watered area. In 1873 this area was reclaimed and the island's size was roughly doubled.
In 1990 the Danish Ministry for the Environment
Ministry of the Environment of Denmark
Ministry of the Environment of Denmark is the Danish ministry in charge of near all matters concerning Environmental issues in Denmark.Created in 1971 as the Ministry of Pollution Combating , it changed its name in 1973 to the current Ministry of the Environment...
acquired the island to conduct ecological restoration
Restoration ecology
-Definition:Restoration ecology is the scientific study and practice of renewing and restoring degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystems and habitats in the environment by active human intervention and action, within a short time frame...
and reforestation
Reforestation
Reforestation is the natural or intentional restocking of existing forests and woodlands that have been depleted, usually through deforestation....
.
Vigelsø today
Vigelsø is a low-lying islnd with its highest point, Østerhoved, only reaching six metres above the sea. There is a 25 hectares forest on the northern part of the island while the southern part consists of coastal meadowMeadow
A meadow is a field vegetated primarily by grass and other non-woody plants . The term is from Old English mædwe. In agriculture a meadow is grassland which is not grazed by domestic livestock but rather allowed to grow unchecked in order to make hay...
s.
There is a 2.5 km walking trail in the forest while the southern part is closed to human traffic to protect the bird life which is sensitive to human disturbance. The birds can be observed from an observation tower
Observation tower
An observation tower is a structure used to view events from a long distance and to create a full 360 degree range of vision. They are usually at least tall and made from stone, iron, and wood. Many modern towers are also used as TV towers, restaurants, or churches...
and a hide. There is a primitive camp site on the island.
External links
- Vigelsø pamphlet from the