Norddorf
Encyclopedia
Norddorf is a municipality on the island of Amrum
in the district of Nordfriesland
in Schleswig-Holstein
, Germany
.
, Norddorf is the oldest village of the island. In 1890, Friedrich von Bodelschwingh
founded a number of seaside hospice
s in Norddorf proper and north of it. Due to this, the place developed into a seaside resort
. In 1925, great parts of the village were destroyed by a fire, so today's view of the village is dominated by mostly modern houses without thatched
roofs. Today, the hospices are not existent any longer or they now serve other purposes.
During the early 20th century, the so-called Kniephafen harbour existed north of Norddorf at Amrum's vast Kniepsand beach. The port was navigable by greater vessels and it most of all served the nautical traffic between Amrum and the port of Hörnum
on the neighbouring island of Sylt
. The Kniephafen was linked to the network of Amrum's island railway. In 1938, the pier
was last moved further north due to proceeding aggradation
. With the adjoining of the Kniepsand beach to the belt of dunes on Amrum's western shore, the harbour had to be abandoned.
Until December 31, 2006 Norddorf together with Nebel
and Wittdün
formed the Amt Amrum.
holds four.
pond south of the village, a centre for natural history
with its focus on environmental protection, as well as the Kniepsand beach to the west.
From Norddorf, Amrum's northernmost edge, called Odde, can be reached. An important bird area
is located there, where Charadriiformes
and other species of the Wadden Sea tidal flats may be observed. Guided tours are available.
A belt of dunes extends north, south and southwest of Norddorf. Amrum's highest dune (32 m), called a Siatler can be found there. On it, there is an observation platform. Further southwest, one can find the Norddorf sector light with its Art Nouveau
elements. The light was established in 1906 and serves as a navigational aid for the Vortrapptief channel. Its bearings have got a range of 16.1 nmi (29.8 km) (white), 12.9 nmi (23.9 km) (red) and 9.8 nmi (18.1 km) (green).
Amrum
Amrum is one of the North Frisian Islands on the German North Sea coast, south of Sylt and west of Föhr. It is part of the Nordfriesland district in the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein...
in the district of Nordfriesland
Nordfriesland
Nordfriesland, English "Northern Friesland" or "North Frisia", is a district in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It includes almost all of traditional North Frisia along with adjacent areas to the east and south and is bounded by the districts of Schleswig-Flensburg and Dithmarschen, the North Sea and...
in Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost of the sixteen states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Schleswig...
, 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...
.
History
Together with SüddorfNebel, Germany
Nebel is a municipality on the island of Amrum in the district of Nordfriesland in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.- Geography and traffic :...
, Norddorf is the oldest village of the island. In 1890, Friedrich von Bodelschwingh
Friedrich von Bodelschwingh
Friedrich von Bodelschwingh, Junior was a German theologian and public health advocate. His father was Friedrich von Bodelschwingh, Senior , founder of the Bodelschwinghsche Anstalten Bethel charitable foundations.-Public health activities:Friedrich was the son of Reverend Friedrich von...
founded a number of seaside hospice
Hospice
Hospice is a type of care and a philosophy of care which focuses on the palliation of a terminally ill patient's symptoms.In the United States and Canada:*Gentiva Health Services, national provider of hospice and home health services...
s in Norddorf proper and north of it. Due to this, the place developed into a seaside resort
Seaside resort
A seaside resort is a resort, or resort town, located on the coast. Where a beach is the primary focus for tourists, it may be called a beach resort.- Overview :...
. In 1925, great parts of the village were destroyed by a fire, so today's view of the village is dominated by mostly modern houses without thatched
Thatching
Thatching is the craft of building a roof with dry vegetation such as straw, water reed, sedge , rushes, or heather, layering the vegetation so as to shed water away from the inner roof. It is a very old roofing method and has been used in both tropical and temperate climates...
roofs. Today, the hospices are not existent any longer or they now serve other purposes.
During the early 20th century, the so-called Kniephafen harbour existed north of Norddorf at Amrum's vast Kniepsand beach. The port was navigable by greater vessels and it most of all served the nautical traffic between Amrum and the port of Hörnum
Hörnum
Hörnum is a municipality in the district of Nordfriesland, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is located on the southern headland of the island of Sylt...
on the neighbouring island of Sylt
Sylt
Sylt is an island in northern Germany, part of Nordfriesland district, Schleswig-Holstein, and well known for the distinctive shape of its shoreline. It belongs to the North Frisian Islands and is the largest island in North Frisia...
. The Kniephafen was linked to the network of Amrum's island railway. In 1938, the pier
Pier
A pier is a raised structure, including bridge and building supports and walkways, over water, typically supported by widely spread piles or pillars...
was last moved further north due to proceeding aggradation
Aggradation
Aggradation is the term used in geology for the increase in land elevation due to the deposition of sediment. Aggradation occurs in areas in which the supply of sediment is greater than the amount of material that the system is able to transport...
. With the adjoining of the Kniepsand beach to the belt of dunes on Amrum's western shore, the harbour had to be abandoned.
Until December 31, 2006 Norddorf together with Nebel
Nebel, Germany
Nebel is a municipality on the island of Amrum in the district of Nordfriesland in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.- Geography and traffic :...
and Wittdün
Wittdün
Wittdün is a municipality on the island of Amrum in the district of Nordfriesland in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.- History :...
formed the Amt Amrum.
Politics
Since the municipal elections of 2008, the Norddorfer Bürgerblock holds five of nine seats in Nebel's council, the CDUChristian Democratic Union (Germany)
The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum...
holds four.
Sights
Touristical attractions include a decoyDecoy
A decoy is usually a person, device or event meant as a distraction, to conceal what an individual or a group might be looking for. Decoys have been used for centuries most notably in game hunting, but also in wartime and in the committing or resolving of crimes.-Duck decoy:The term duck decoy may...
pond south of the village, a centre for natural history
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
with its focus on environmental protection, as well as the Kniepsand beach to the west.
From Norddorf, Amrum's northernmost edge, called Odde, can be reached. An important bird area
Important Bird Area
An Important Bird Area is an area recognized as being globally important habitat for the conservation of bird populations. Currently there are about 10,000 IBAs worldwide. The program was developed and sites are identified by BirdLife International...
is located there, where Charadriiformes
Charadriiformes
Charadriiformes is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 350 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most Charadriiformes live near water and eat invertebrates or other small animals; however, some are pelagic , some occupy deserts and a few are found in thick...
and other species of the Wadden Sea tidal flats may be observed. Guided tours are available.
A belt of dunes extends north, south and southwest of Norddorf. Amrum's highest dune (32 m), called a Siatler can be found there. On it, there is an observation platform. Further southwest, one can find the Norddorf sector light with its Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
elements. The light was established in 1906 and serves as a navigational aid for the Vortrapptief channel. Its bearings have got a range of 16.1 nmi (29.8 km) (white), 12.9 nmi (23.9 km) (red) and 9.8 nmi (18.1 km) (green).