National Parks of the Baltic Sea: The Western Pomeranian Bodden Landscape

Country: Germany
Area: 786 km²
Of which water: 83 %

• Part 1: Jasmund - Rügen's chalk cliffs
• Part 2: The Curonian Spit
• Part 3: The Slovenian National Park
• Part 4: Mols Bjerge
• Part 5: Gotska Sandön
• Part 6: Kvarken archipelago

It is in constant motion, change is its trademark: for thousands of years, the Vorpommersche Bodden landscape has been shaped by wind and waves. The landscape resembles a mosaic of wind tidal flats, lagoons, shifting dunes, moors and shore forests.

A national park as a legacy of the GDR

Since 1990, the 60-kilometre stretch of coast from Darß in the west to the Bug peninsula on Rügen has been protected as a national park. It is said to have been the last decision of the GDR government, which came into force two days before reunification. Where restricted military areas were previously established, concrete slabs were built through dunes and moors were drained for livestock farming, nature has been allowed to develop freely again for 35 years. The third largest national park in Germany consists of 83 per cent coastal waters, mudflats and lagoons. The ideal area for water sports enthusiasts, provided they follow certain rules of behaviour. It is a refuge for endangered species of fish and water birds, harbour porpoises and grey seals.

Rules on the water

For this reason, a regulation governs sailing and anchoring in the various zones. Sailing is permitted in the green zone, but no motorised sailing. As a general rule, a minimum distance of 50 metres must be maintained from reed beds, resting or breeding areas. Particularly sensitive habitats are located in the red zones. Any navigation outside the buoyed fairway is prohibited there. Direct access to the harbours is permitted. In the fairways of the national park, speed is limited to 12 knots, outside the fairway to eight knots. Anchoring overnight is prohibited in the national park. There are several information centres in the national park: the National Park House on Hiddensee, the Sundische Wiese on Zingst and the Haus am Kliff in Barhöft. Other exhibitions include the Island Treasure in Ummanz, the exhibition "The National Park from above" in the Darßer Arche information centre and the Natureum. The branch of the German Maritime Museum Stralsund is located around five kilometres west of Prerow.

Travelling by boat

There are 33 berths available in the island harbour of Prerow. However, due to its function as an emergency and staging harbour, the berthing time is limited to a maximum of 24 hours. There are other harbours on the Bodden side of the Darß and on the east side of the island of Hiddensee.

General information on national parks

National parks are retreats for plants and animals where nature is left to its own devices. At the same time, they attract millions of visitors every year precisely because of their unspoilt nature. And that is the intention: As part of the conservation objectives, people should experience nature here and thus recognise its value and worthiness of protection - a constant balancing act between nature conservation and tourism. National parks are divided into two zones. The core zones may not be utilised commercially or in any other way; humans are not permitted to intervene here. Visitors may only enter the marked paths. There are also restricted areas on the water and rules for travelling, mooring and anchoring. In the other parts of the national parks, you can usually move around freely. This second zone is to be preserved in its existing form through special care and utilisation, such as grazing with sheep.