Richel (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈrɪxəl] ⓘ; English: Ridge), or rather De Richel (The Ridge), is a permanently dry sandbank in the Wadden Sea, in the gap between the Dutch islands of Vlieland and Terschelling. It is located about 1 kilometer east of the northernmost point of Vlieland and is administered by the municipality of Vlieland. The sandbank has an average surface area of 116 hectares.[1] It is completely flooded only during extremely high tides.[2]
The island is primarily known as the most important breeding place in the Wadden Sea for grey seals.[3] More than 300 pups are born on Richel in winter. In summer seals seem to prefer areas more sheltered from human contact. The sandbank is also important as a breeding and feeding area for ringed plovers, Kentish plovers, little terns and other bird species.
Richel is uninhabited and virtually barren. It is too low to support any permanent vegetation.[4] The sandbank is only able to support some temporary colonisation by the grass species sand couch (Elytrigia juncea).
The ferry between Harlingen and Vlieland passes by Richel, making a detour around the sandbank. During low tide, it is possible to walk to the sandbank from Vlieland (see mudflat hiking) although Richel is off-limits to humans due to its importance as a nature area. Boat trips from Vlieland used to be organised daily during the summer tourist season to observe the seal population on Richel.
References
- ^ "Cijfers en Feiten", Gemeente Vlieland (Dutch, archived)
- ^ Milieudefensie (Dutch)
- ^ http://www.we-at-sea.org/index.php?keuze=r1222005-006
- ^ ZeeInZicht: guide to the Wadden Sea, the coast and the North Sea Archived 2011-07-28 at the Wayback Machine
External links
Media related to Richel at Wikimedia Commons
| West Frisian Islands (Netherlands) |
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| East Frisian Islands (Germany) |
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| Heligoland Bight (Germany) | |||||||
| North Frisian Islands (Germany) |
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| Danish Wadden Sea Islands (Denmark) |
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