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Oland (Frisian island)

Coordinates: 54°40′39″N 8°42′14″E / 54.67750°N 8.70389°E / 54.67750; 8.70389
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The hamlet of Oland as seen from the air.
Oland (left), behind it Langeness, right Föhr with Amrum in the background.

Oland (Danish: Øland, North Frisian: Ualöönist) is a small hallig of the North Frisian Islands which is connected by a narrow-gauge railway to the mainland and to hallig Langeneß. In 2019, the population was estimated, unofficially, to be 16 people.[1]

Germany's smallest lighthouse is located here, being also the only one with a thatched roof.

History

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People have settled in this place since the Middle Ages, while today's Oland was connected to the Hallig Langeneß until the Burchardi flood in 1634. The Hallig became smaller as a result of numerous storm surges over the centuries. The second terp (Warft) of the Hallig was destroyed in a storm flood in 1850, so today's Oland consists of one large terp in the Wadden Sea.[2]

Since 1927, Oland and Langeneß have been connected to the mainland by a dam with a narrow-gauge railway. Initially, the lorries on this railway were powered by sails, but later they switched to small combustion engines, which are still used today.

In addition, Oland has a small harbor. Vessels with a shallow draft can enter this harbor approximately between three hours before and three hours after high tide, during the rest of the time the access channel is almost dry.

References

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  1. ^ Shebab, Ibrahim (15 July 2019). "The small German island defying the ocean". BBC Reel. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  2. ^ "Hallig Oland". halligen.de. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
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Media related to Hallig Oland at Wikimedia Commons

54°40′39″N 8°42′14″E / 54.67750°N 8.70389°E / 54.67750; 8.70389