Klintholm Havn
Encyclopedia
Møn
-Location:Møn is located just off the south-eastern tip of Zealand from which it is separated by the waters of the Hølen strait between Kalvehave and the island of Nyord, at the northern end of Møn. Further south is Stege Bugt...
, an island in Vordingborg Municipality, southeastern Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. As of 1 January 2010, the population is 209.
The harbour was built in 1878 by C.S. Scavenius, owner of the nearby Klintholm Estate, as a means of exporting local produce and chalk.
Attractions
Klintholm Havn has now become an active fishing port as well as a popular tourist resort with several restaurants and art galleries. Attractions include the large marina, two sandy beaches, a supermarket and a fish-smoking house with its own restaurant. The Østersøen hotel also has a swimmingpool and children's play grounds.The marina, which has full facilities, is open to all in season.
In the summer, there are boat excursions providing excellent views of Møns Klint
Møns Klint
Møns Klint, , is a striking landmark and tourist attraction along the eastern coast of the Danish island of Møn in the Baltic Sea. The bright chalk cliffs stretch some 6 km from the park of in the north to the in the south. Some of the cliffs fall a sheer 120 m to the sea below...
, a stretch of towering chalk cliffs along the eastern coast of the island.
Klinholm Havn can be reached by bus from Stege
Stege
Strege may refer to:*Stege, Denmark*Richard Stege*Stege Creek an alternate name for Baxter Creek, used especially in the Booker T. Washington Park and Stege Marsh areas.*Stege Marsh a wetlands area in Richmond, California...
, 16 km away, which in turn has bus services to Vordingborg
Vordingborg
Vordingborg is a municipality in Region Sjælland on the southeast coast of the island of Zealand in south Denmark. The municipality includes the island of Masnedø, and covers an area of 621 km². It has a total population of 46,600...
where there is a railway station.
Rescue of Stutthof victims
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, a barge with 370 starving prisoners from the Stutthof concentration camp
Stutthof concentration camp
Stutthof was the first Nazi concentration camp built outside of 1937 German borders.Completed on September 2, 1939, it was located in a secluded, wet, and wooded area west of the small town of Sztutowo . The town is located in the former territory of the Free City of Danzig, 34 km east of...
near Danzig (now Gdansk) arrived in Klintholm Havn. Those in control of the concentration camp had forced the prisoners onto the barge and allowed them to drift across the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
. A German tug finally brought the barge into the harbour. The local inhabitants managed to save 351 of the prisoners, after the remaining 19 died of disease during the next few days. A memorial stone now stands on the shore of Klinthom Havn at the point where the barge came ashore. It was erected on 5 May 1995, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the event.
Environment
East Møn is a quiet, hilly area with mixed farming. To the east, the ground rises to the wooded natural park which leads to the chalk Cliffs of MønMøns Klint
Møns Klint, , is a striking landmark and tourist attraction along the eastern coast of the Danish island of Møn in the Baltic Sea. The bright chalk cliffs stretch some 6 km from the park of in the north to the in the south. Some of the cliffs fall a sheer 120 m to the sea below...
. There are many varieties of land and sea birds, particularly swallows and swans, while wild deer, squirrels, hare and foxes are among the animal species you are most likely to see. See the article on Møns Klint
Møns Klint
Møns Klint, , is a striking landmark and tourist attraction along the eastern coast of the Danish island of Møn in the Baltic Sea. The bright chalk cliffs stretch some 6 km from the park of in the north to the in the south. Some of the cliffs fall a sheer 120 m to the sea below...
for more information about the rarer species you can see in the area.
Climate
Møn has a relatively mild climate compared to the rest of Denmark. Data from Denmark's Meteorological Institute show that average mid-summer highs range from 19 C to 26 C while winter daytime averages are around freezing point. Rainfall rarely exceeds 10 days per month.The summer days are long and bright with about 17 hours of daylight while in the winter, the days are short and often quite dull.
In view of the shallow depth of the Baltic, the temperature of the sea can rise to about 20 C in the summer months. And during exceptionally cold winters, partly as a result of the low salinity of the Baltic, the seawater has also been known to freeze.