Ribe & Mandø

The Wadden Sea and the marshes
The birdlife in the Wadden Sea area around Ribe is truly impressive. The Wadden Sea stretches from the Netherlands, across Germany and into Denmark, and is centrally positioned for the 12 million or so ducks, gulls and wading birds that follow East Atlantic routes between
their summer and winter ”quarters“. In addition to serving as a “pantry” for the migratory
birds, the area also constitutes a breeding area for a large number of species, including
several rare and endangered species. In fact, the area is considered one of the five most important stretches of wetlands in the world. Germany has designated its section of the Wadden Sea a National Park, and there is currently much discussion about whether the
Netherlands and Denmark are to follow suit. The Danish section of the Wadden Sea stretches
from Ho Bay in the north to the Danish- German border in the south. The extent of the
marshland to the east varies. The Danish Wadden Sea has been designated a Nature and
Wildlife Reserve, and an EU bird protection and habitat area.