Editing Dithmarschen (section)

==Geography==
[[File:Hedwigenkoog.JPG|thumb|Marshland in northern Dithmarschen]]
[[File:Buesum.jpg|thumb|[[Wadden Sea]] at Büsum]]
The district is located on the [[North Sea]]. It is embraced by the [[Elbe]] estuary to the south and the [[Eider (river)|Eider]] estuary to the north. Today it forms a kind of [[artificial island]], surrounded by the Eider river in the north and the [[Kiel Canal]] in both the east and southeast. It is a rather flat countryside that was once full of fens and swamps.

To the north it borders on [[Nordfriesland]] and [[Schleswig-Flensburg]], to the east on [[Rendsburg-Eckernförde]], and in the southeast on [[Steinburg]]. Its landward boundaries have remained basically the same since the times of [[Charlemagne]]. [[Land reclamation]], however, has almost doubled the size of Dithmarschen as land has been wrested from the sea.

The main roads and rail lines in Schleswig-Holstein follow a north–south direction, making Hamburg its most accessible city. Exemplary is the most important railway line in the district, the [[Marsh Railway]], and the main roads, [[Bundesautobahn 23]] and [[Bundesstraße 5]]

The district has a maximum north–south length of 54 kilometers and an east–west length of 41 kilometers. The highest point, near Schrum in the [[geest]]land, is {{convert|78|m|ft}} above sea level and the lowest point, near Burg, is {{convert|0.5|m|ftin}} below sea level.

Dithmarschen's landscape owes its character to the North Sea. From west to east Dithmarschen consists of the [[Wadden Sea]], [[marsh|marshes]], [[bog|bogs]], and the [[geest]]land. The North Sea had a higher sea level 6,500 years ago than today and the coastline then ran along the geestland. About 4,500 years ago, geestland structures were connected by sand and gravel depositions that formed [[Spit (landform)|spits]]. Bogs, lakes, and swamps emerged as the area behind the spits no longer flooded. After the first plants ([[glasswort]]) took root, the land transformed first to salt marshes and finally to marshes. These marshes rank among the most fertile of Germany's soils. Vegetable farming in Dithmarschen produces the highest yields in Schleswig-Holstein.

Since about the 8th century, the people of Dithmarschen have been living on [[Artificial dwelling hill|warfts]] for protection from the sea. In the 12th century, they began building [[Dike (construction)|dikes]] to protect their pastures and fields. Since about the 15th century, they have been reclaiming land from the sea.

===Flora and fauna===
[[File:Baeume im Westwind.JPG|left|thumb|Wind influences tree growth]]

While the Geest has some woods, trees are found in marshlands only in the form of wind protection around houses or villages. Traditional are the {{ill|Wallhecke|de|lt=Knicks}}: tree rows with strong undergrowth to protect agricultural land from the wind.

Several bogs are present in Dithmarschen. A special position is taken by the "Weißes Moor" (White bog), the only bog still existing in a quite-natural shape in the Schleswig-Holstein marsh land.

[[File:Phoca vitulina he.jpg|thumb|[[Common seal]] on a sand bank]]
[[File:BrantaLeucopsisFilghtB.jpg|thumb|Barnacle goose in flight]]
Part of the [[Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park]] is in Dithmarschen. It is the most important natural habitat in the district. Many molluscs can be found here, including [[bivalve]]s, [[gastropods]], [[worm]]s and [[crustaceans]], which provide food for larger animals. Fish use the Wadden Sea as a "kindergarten" where they can raise their offspring in a protected environment. Although many species of birds settle permanently in the Wadden Sea, many others use it only as a winter habitat or as a resting place. Typical birds in Dithmarschen are [[dunlin|dunlins]], [[Red knot|red knots]], [[bar-tailed godwit|bar-tailed godwits]], [[northern lapwing]]s, [[ringed plover|ringed plovers]], [[Eurasian oystercatcher|Eurasian oystercatchers]], many species of [[duck]] and [[gull]], [[sandwich tern|sandwich terns]], [[pied avocet|pied avocets]], [[brent goose|brent geese]] and [[barnacle goose|barnacle geese]]. 200,000 [[common shelduck]]s alone come in August. The shelducks lose their feathers in the Wadden Sea and therefore are unable to fly for around three weeks. The majority of common shelducks in Northwestern Europe travel to the area at this time. Large [[salt marsh]]es are located along the Friedrichskoog coast and in the Neufeld Bay.

Three sand banks, [[Trischen]], Tertius and [[Blauort]] are in the sea. They are some of only a few still-natural habitats along the German coast, and they are of importance to sea birds and seals. After futile attempts in the 1930s to make them habitable to humans, they are now part of the national park, closed to public access. Many birds preferring wet grasslands live in the [[Eider-Treene Valley]].