Juist - a sandbar in the North Sea?

When flying from Borkum on the Lower Saxony North Sea island of Juist, one of the East Frisian Islands, can understand, why the locals of "Töwerland", the magic land, speak. Barely 500 meters wide, but 17 and with many kilometers a never-ending white sand beach, seems it as a lonely Robbinson sandbar at.

of course, the postman rides a bike.

But silence can be no question. Constant of horses penetrates the ears, and carts are part of the island image. They neigh joyfully, come to meet them other horses. Even the garbage is transported by horses. But the horses are allowed to go only in step. Those who violate the ruling trot ban, conceded even points in Flensburg, visitors learn.

As a certified North Sea spa and health resort it is not surprising, Juist that wants to keep its air clean and cars bans. Not even the police is motorized. The doctor uses 122 Gallons of gasoline a year. Instead, horse-drawn carriages and bicycles are announced. Only a part of Juists way, to 2030 to be completely carbon neutral - despite the popular tourism.

And so the island has already launched several flagship projects in the fight against climate change to life: over 80 Percent of the island area are protected – the naturalist Dr. h. c. Otto Leege (1862-1951) established the Conservation and planted a forest, growing place in the height and in width. A staircase with the "five elements" Juists – Sand, water, salt, air, light (Sun) – you reach the "ecological-artistic island path" with informative illustrated signs about flora and fauna created in his honor – by Otto Leege Gate, the gateway to the Wadden Sea.

Even tourists can learn from the example of Juist: So meat lovers will not only Thursdays need to switch to the meatless dishes at islandwide Veggie Day in restaurants, but may in a national park on the unique ecosystem of the Wadden Sea National Park information. Here the skeleton of a minke whale is waiting for astonished eyes. Who thinks now, that to Juist 2030 will be vegetarian Island, you are wrong, the Veggie Day was established as a sample project, to also other CO2 saving - with success!

Younger guests can make sense in the Children's University, because here everything revolves around the theme "Climate Change". And because sustainable travel trend is, can travel climate neutral by train vacationers. Since ships can travel only at high tide over the high Juister Watt, the ferry connections are limited to the mainland, The car-free island can be a maximum of twice a day under way.

"You can believe me, that no other tour guides digs this shell, is much too strenuous ", emphasizes Heino. the butter clam

On the Wadden side of the island tour under expert guidance. Heino is one of those tour guides and even enjoyed work, where, by 70 cm must dig deep with your hands, a butter clam to convey to the surface. Although there are plenty of them on the North Sea, I saw her for the first time on Juist. "You can believe me, that no other tour guides digs this shell, is much too strenuous ", emphasizes Heino. I can confirm to him. He has other sensations in stock. the Sandpierwurm, commonly called Wattwurm, makes 48 ejections in 24 hours. These are the ringed sand piles on the tidal flats. If he sucks the sand, it is readily eaten by the waiting birds, not if the employee him, because it is then difficult for pulling. The tree tube worm is also a special. It forms a sand tube around them, he festpappt with saliva. Pulling them out one from the Wadden, The worm has long since disappeared in the depths. There he forms a new tube in half a day.

That excavated cockles disappear thanks to their grave foot quickly in Watts, stunned the guests. I knew it already. Some put Heino into a glass with turbid sea water and put a glass with sea water next to it. "That we can now stand here, until we come back from our walk. "On the way back big surprise: The sea water in the one glass remained cloudy, but the cockles were now in clean clear water. "The experiment is to show us, the importance of mussels for the purity of the seas. Please do not eat, the sea will thank you. "But in I meet a large-advertised restaurant specialty: "Mussels Rhenish style". 70 Percent of the regulars Juists come from North Rhine-Westphalia. The restaurant operators should even participate in a mudflat tour!
90.000 Guests visit the island with their 1635 inhabitants and 7000 Beds every year.

A popular photo – the navaid Juists Dubai

A must for every visitor Juist is a walk to Bill. The large sandbar located on the western end of the island – there meet where North Sea and the Wadden Sea. The Bill consists of several large sandbanks, which are crossed by creeks. At low tide, it offers an impressive image - that of a huge sand desert.

Prominent landmark and attraction on the harbor is the Memmertfeuer - the only lighthouse, which does not extend sends his light on the sea. When 1986 the lantern of the closed beacon was removed on Memmert, joined a syndicate together, to save the beacon. The Juister population and guests wanted a tower for the beacon. This tower was built at the harbor entrance for the beacon, only made possible by generous donations from islanders and guests. Since the light of Memmertfeuers is not an official navigational aids and may not serve the shipping industry, it can be seen in the longitudinal direction of the island. It recalls the time, in which it has guided sailors far out at sea the way. When the Leuchtanzündfest 29. December 1992 It was inaugurated. Since then, it shines in 13-second intervals over Juist.
In the summer months the lighthouse can be climbed for a fee of one euro.

since 2008 is one at the harbor entrance 17 Meter high Seezeichen, which has the form of a hotel in Dubai and has become a new symbol of Juist: Dubai Juist. Also one must climb – the trail on the pier along the pleasure craft harbor of Juist sailing clubs.

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Infos:
www.juist.de

Photos:
Elke Backert