Süderoog
Encyclopedia
Süderoog is one of the Hallig
en, a group of islands in the North Frisian Wadden Sea
, off the west coast of Schleswig-Holstein
in north Germany
. It belongs administratively to the parish of Pellworm
and is a bird reserve
.
Before the Burchardi flood
in 1634 there were three houses on the island, one of which was inhabited by the beach lookout (Strandvogt). He was also the caretaker of the beacon
, which was destroyed during the storm surge
of 1634. In this storm tide, two houses were destroyed and ten people were drowned. In the February flood of 1825
the last remaining house was destroyed. It was rebuilt, however, and served again as the residence of the lookout. Today the Hallig has an area of 62 hectares (153.2 acre) and is currently farmed organically by a husband and wife.
The most famous resident of the island was Hermann Paulsen Neuton who, from 1927 until his death in 1951, ran an international youth meeting place, the "Island of Boys." (Insel der Jungen). It was continued after his death by his wife, Gunvor, and in 1960, converted into a foundation, whose aim was "on the basis of Hermann Neuton Paulsen's work and in the interests of international understanding, to give young people from different countries the opportunity to meet on the island of Süderoog in an atmosphere of freedom borne out of responsibility, to get to know one another as friends, and to live together in ways that are to match the development of psychology and pedagogy at any time. "(§ 2 of the Foundation's Charter, Stockholm, 22 February 1960).
Difficult sanitary conditions, which could not be sufficiently improved, and damage caused by the flood of 1962 led to the gradual decline of Süderoog's holiday work. The Hallig that had been in the private ownership of the Paulsen family for centuries was finally sold in 1971 to the state of Schleswig-Holstein
. In 1974 the foundation was dissolved.
Süderoog is inhabited by a couple who rent the Hallig from the state of Schleswig-Holstein. Both are active in coastal protection and look after the preservation of the island. Access to Süderoog is only possible as part of a guided tour from Pellworm.
Hallig
The Halligen are ten small German islands without protective dikes in the North Frisian Islands on Schleswig-Holstein's Wadden Sea-North Sea coast in the district of Nordfriesland....
en, a group of islands in the North Frisian Wadden Sea
Wadden Sea
The Wadden Sea is an intertidal zone in the southeastern part of the North Sea. It lies between the coast of northwestern continental Europe and the range of Frisian Islands, forming a shallow body of water with tidal flats and wetlands. It is rich in biological diversity...
, off the west coast of 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...
in north 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...
. It belongs administratively to the parish of Pellworm
Pellworm
Pellworm is one of the North Frisian Islands on the North Sea coast of Germany. It is part of the Nordfriesland district in the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein. Its area is 37 km², and its population is roughly 1,200....
and is a bird reserve
Bird Reserve
A bird reserve is a wildlife refuge designed to protect bird species. Like other wildlife refuges, the main goal of a reserve is to prevent species from becoming endangered or extinct. Typically, bird species in a reserve are protected from hunting and habitat destruction...
.
Before the Burchardi flood
Burchardi flood
The Burchardi Flood was a storm tide that struck the North Sea coast of North Frisia and Dithmarschen on the night between 11 and 12 October 1634. Overrunning dikes, it shattered the coastline and caused thousands of deaths and catastrophic material damage...
in 1634 there were three houses on the island, one of which was inhabited by the beach lookout (Strandvogt). He was also the caretaker of the beacon
Beacon
A beacon is an intentionally conspicuous device designed to attract attention to a specific location.Beacons can also be combined with semaphoric or other indicators to provide important information, such as the status of an airport, by the colour and rotational pattern of its airport beacon, or of...
, which was destroyed during the storm surge
Storm surge
A storm surge is an offshore rise of water associated with a low pressure weather system, typically tropical cyclones and strong extratropical cyclones. Storm surges are caused primarily by high winds pushing on the ocean's surface. The wind causes the water to pile up higher than the ordinary sea...
of 1634. In this storm tide, two houses were destroyed and ten people were drowned. In the February flood of 1825
February flood of 1825
The February flood of 1825, also known in Germany as the Great Hallig Flood , was a flood disaster that occurred from 3 to 5 February 1825 on the North Sea coast, in which about 800 people were drowned....
the last remaining house was destroyed. It was rebuilt, however, and served again as the residence of the lookout. Today the Hallig has an area of 62 hectares (153.2 acre) and is currently farmed organically by a husband and wife.
The most famous resident of the island was Hermann Paulsen Neuton who, from 1927 until his death in 1951, ran an international youth meeting place, the "Island of Boys." (Insel der Jungen). It was continued after his death by his wife, Gunvor, and in 1960, converted into a foundation, whose aim was "on the basis of Hermann Neuton Paulsen's work and in the interests of international understanding, to give young people from different countries the opportunity to meet on the island of Süderoog in an atmosphere of freedom borne out of responsibility, to get to know one another as friends, and to live together in ways that are to match the development of psychology and pedagogy at any time. "(§ 2 of the Foundation's Charter, Stockholm, 22 February 1960).
Difficult sanitary conditions, which could not be sufficiently improved, and damage caused by the flood of 1962 led to the gradual decline of Süderoog's holiday work. The Hallig that had been in the private ownership of the Paulsen family for centuries was finally sold in 1971 to the state of 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...
. In 1974 the foundation was dissolved.
Süderoog is inhabited by a couple who rent the Hallig from the state of Schleswig-Holstein. Both are active in coastal protection and look after the preservation of the island. Access to Süderoog is only possible as part of a guided tour from Pellworm.