Editing Amrum

{{Short description|German island}}
{{RefImprove|date=July 2019}}{{Other uses}}
{{Infobox islands
| name             = Amrum
| image_name       = Luftaufnahmen Nordseekueste 2012-05-by-RaBoe-104.jpg
| image_caption    = Aerial view of Amrum
| image_size       = 
| map_image        = Wadden - Amrun.PNG
| native_name      = Oomram
| native_name_link = 
| nickname         = 
| location         = [[Wadden Sea]]
| coordinates      = {{coord|54|39|N|8|21|E|region:DE_type:isle}}
| archipelago      = [[North Frisian Islands]]
| total_islands    = 
| major_islands    = [[Sylt]], [[Föhr]], Amrum
| area_km2         = 20.46
| length_km        =
| width_km         =
| coastline_km     =
| highest_mount    = Siatler
| elevation_m       = 32
| country          = Germany
| country_admin_divisions_title     = [[States of Germany|State]]
| country_admin_divisions           = [[Schleswig-Holstein]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_1   = [[Districts of Germany|District]]
| country_admin_divisions_1         = [[Nordfriesland]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_2   = 
| country_admin_divisions_2         = 
| country_capital                   = 
| country_largest_city              = 
| country_largest_city_population   = 
| country_leader_title              = 
| country_leader_name               = 
| country_1                         = 
| country_1_admin_divisions_title   = 
| country_1_admin_divisions         = 
| country_1_capital_city            = 
| country_1_largest_city            = 
| country_1_largest_city_population = 
| country_1_leader_title            = 
| country_1_leader_name             = 
| country_2                         = 
| country_2_admin_divisions_title   = 
| country_2_admin_divisions         = 
| country_2_capital_city            = 
| country_2_largest_city            = 
| country_2_largest_city_population = 
| country_2_leader_title            = 
| country_2_leader_name             = 
| population       = 2,354
| population_as_of = 2013<ref name="AFA Zahlen"/>
| density_km2      = 111
| ethnic_groups    =[[Germans]], [[Frisians]]
| additional_info  =
}}
'''Amrum''' ({{IPA|de|ˈamʁʊm|-|De-Amrum2.ogg}}; [[Öömrang|''Öömrang'' North Frisian]]: ''Oomram'') is one of the [[North Frisian Islands]] on the [[Germany|German]] [[North Sea]] coast, south of [[Sylt]] and west of [[Föhr]]. It is part of the [[Nordfriesland]] district in the federal state of [[Schleswig-Holstein]] and has approximately 2,300 inhabitants.

The island is made up of a sandy core of [[geest]]land and features an extended beach all along its west coast, facing the open North Sea. The east coast borders to [[mudflats]] of the [[Wadden Sea]]. Sand [[dune]]s are a characteristic part of Amrum's landscape, resulting in a vegetation that is largely made up of heath and shrubs. The island's only forest was planted in 1948. Amrum is a refuge for many species of birds and a number of marine mammals including the [[grey seal]] and [[harbour porpoise]].

Settlements on Amrum have been traced back to the [[Neolithic]] period when the area was still a part of the mainland of the [[Jutland]] peninsula. During the Middle Ages, [[Frisians|Frisian]] settlers arrived at Amrum and engaged in salt making and seafaring. A part of the modern population still speaks [[Öömrang]], a dialect of the [[North Frisian language]], and Frisian traditions are kept alive.

With the island hosting many endangered species of plants and animals, its soil being largely unproductive for agriculture and as a popular seaside resort in general, Amrum's population today almost exclusively lives from the tourism industry.

== Geography ==
[[File:Oomram-Amrum.png|thumb|left|Map of Amrum (North Frisian, German and Danish place names)]]
[[File:amrum.beach2.jpg|thumb|left|The ''Kniepsand'' beach]]
[[File:Amrum lighthouse.jpg|thumb|left|Amrum lighthouse]]
Amrum's area measures 20.4&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>,<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o2Eu9weXR2gC&q=Amrum+Fl%C3%A4che+km2&pg=PA24 |title=Neues Universallexikon in Farbe |trans-title=New Coloured Universal Encyclopedia |page=24 |language=de |editor-first=Angela |editor-last=Sendlinger |publisher=[[Circon Verlag|Compact Verlag]] |year=2008 |isbn=978-3-8174-6638-2}}</ref> making it the tenth-largest island of Germany (excluding [[Usedom]] which is partly Polish territory).<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.destatis.de/DE/Publikationen/StatistischesJahrbuch/GesellschaftundStaat/GeoKlima.pdf?__blob=publicationFile |title=Statistisches Jahrbuch 2012 - Gesellschaft und Staat |trans-title=2012 Statistical Yearbook – Society and State |language=de |chapter=Geografie und Klima |trans-chapter=Geography and Climate |page=17 |publisher=[[Federal Statistical Office of Germany]]}}</ref> Including the large Kniepsand beach on the western shore to the surface area results in a total area of c. 30&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name="SH Development">{{cite web|url=http://www.schleswig-holstein.de/KuestenSchutz/DE/01_Amrum/00_Einleitung/02_Entwicklung/ein_node.html |title=Entwicklung der Insel Amrum |trans-title=Development of Amrum Island |language=de |publisher=Government of Schleswig-Holstein |access-date=17 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224213707/http://www.schleswig-holstein.de/KuestenSchutz/DE/01_Amrum/00_Einleitung/02_Entwicklung/ein_node.html |archive-date=24 December 2013 }}</ref> Amrum's surface area has however been subject to constant change due to land loss and gain caused by the sea. During the 19th century, a 20th part of the area recorded in the beginning of the century had been lost, but in 1913, a net gain was again recorded at the Kniepsand.<ref>{{cite book|title=Die Insel Amrum |trans-title=Amrum Island |first=August |last=Krause |year=2012 |orig-year=1913 |language=de |publisher=Dogma |page=7 |isbn=978-3-9550-7224-7}}</ref>

Amrum is one of three isles with a [[geest (topography)|geestland]] core in Nordfriesland.<ref>{{cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mfo5TPb7SDsC&q=Amrum&pg=PA645| title=Encyclopedia of the World's Coastal Landforms |volume=1 |editor-first=Eric C. |editor-last=Bird |chapter=Germany |first1=Klaus |last1=Schwarzer |first2=Horst |last2=Sterr |page=645 |publisher=[[Springer Publishing|Springer]] |year=2010 |isbn=978-1-4020-8638-0}}</ref> This sandy core is made up of glacial deposits from the Saalian [[glacial period]].<ref name="SH Development"/> To the east, it borders to the Wadden Sea [[mudflats]] of the North Sea. The east side is also where the island's historic hamlets are situated: [[Norddorf]], [[Nebel, Germany|Nebel]], Süddorf and Steenodde. On the geestland core, one can find extended areas of heath and woodland which form a strip that runs along a north-south line on the axis. West of this woodland strip, a region of {{convert|838|ha}} is covered with [[dune]]s<ref name="AFA Zahlen">{{cite web|url=http://www.amt-foehr-amrum.de/f_portr.htm|title=Zahlen, Daten, Fakten|publisher=[[Föhr-Amrum|Amt Föhr-Amrum]]|language=de|year=2011|access-date=16 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121129062035/http://www.amt-foehr-amrum.de/f_portr.htm|archive-date=29 November 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> that run all along the island for about 12&nbsp;km. The maximal width of this area amounts to more than a kilometre. Amrum's tallest dune near Norddorf is called ''a Siatler'' (the settling dune); it reaches 32 m in height.<ref name="AFA Zahlen"/> Northward, the dune area extends into a small peninsula called ''Odde''. In the south of Amrum, the newest settlement, [[Wittdün]], is located. West of the dunes, the entire shore of Amrum is made up of the ''Kniepsand'' beach; it counts among northern [[Europe]]'s largest sand beaches. North of Norddorf there is some [[marshland]], another small marsh area can be found between Süddorf and Steenodde.<ref name="SH Development"/> Both of them are protected from the sea by [[Levee|dikes]]. During low [[tide]] it is possible to reach the neighbouring island of Föhr by [[mudflat hiking]].

Amrum's population amounts to about 2,300 and the island is divided into three municipalities: Norddorf, Nebel and Wittdün. All are within the ''Amt'' [[Föhr-Amrum]].<ref name="AFA Zahlen"/>

===Villages===
[[File:Amrumer Windmühle (2018).jpg|thumb|Amrum wind mill (2018)]]
The northernmost settlement is the [[seaside resort]] of Norddorf with a [[decoy]] pond and a [[sector light]]. Amrum's largest village, Nebel, is located near the eastern coastline. Notable sights there include the church of St. Clement with its [[Talking Gravestones of Amrum|"talking gravestones"]], the ''Öömrang Hüs'' - a museum of local history, a [[wind mill]] and the Cemetery of the Homeless. Süddorf, today a district of Nebel, is the island's oldest hamlet. The [[Amrum Lighthouse]] is located there. Steenodde, also a neighbourhood of Nebel, had long been Amrum's only port until Wittdün, founded 1890, had taken over as the island's major ferry terminal. Of the three municipalities, Wittdün is most clearly influenced by tourism.

==History==
{{Historical populations|1821|578|1823|575|1824|586|1825|589|1826|595|1827|593|1828|589|1829|592|1830|595|1833|580|1860|642|1871|572|1890|698|1905|990|1927|1164|1951|1455|2013|2354 |2016|2303|source=<ref>{{Population Germany|key=01 0 54 085|datref=QUELLE}}</ref><ref name="AFA Zahlen"/><ref>{{harvnb|Rheinheimer|2007|pp=8, 20}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Das kleine Amrum-Buch |language=de |first=Rolf |last=Dircksen |pages=21, 33 |year=1952 |edition=2nd |publisher=Christian Jensen Verlag |location=[[Breklum]]}}</ref>}}
The oldest traces of settlements in the area date back to the [[Neolithic]] with a number of [[dolmen]]s among them. Also many tomb sites from the [[Bronze Age|Bronze]] and [[Iron Age]]s have been preserved. In the dunes west of the decoy pond, the remainders of an Iron Age hamlet have been found. It is unknown whether the [[Ambrones]], who together with the [[Cimbri]] and [[Teutones]] threatened [[Rome]] around 100 BC, stemmed from this island which back then was still connected to the mainland by a land bridge. In the early [[Middle Ages]] the island was colonised by the [[Frisians]]. The oldest known record of Amrum island has been found in the ''[[Danish Census Book]]'' of King [[Valdemar II of Denmark]] from 1231.<ref name=pott>{{cite book|first=Richard |last=Pott |title=Farbatlas Nordseeküste und Nordseeinseln |language=de |publisher= Ulmer Verlag |location= Stuttgart |year=1995 |isbn=3-8001-3350-4 |pages= 259 et seq}}</ref>

Next to [[Open pan salt making|salt making]], agriculture, fishery and [[History of whaling|whaling]], [[Ship transport|merchant shipping]] was one of the main sources of income for a long time. [[Hark Olufs]], a sailor from Süddorf who had been enslaved by [[Algeria]]ns in 1724, advanced to the rank of a [[General]] until he was allowed to return to his native island in 1736. During the late 19th century, tourism became a rapidly emerging business on Amrum and effectively changed the island's economy.

During the Middle Ages, Amrum, as well as all of North Frisia proper, belonged to the so-called ''[[Uthlande]]'', the Outer Lands, which only successively became parts of the Danish realm or the Duchy of [[Schleswig]]. After the conflicts between the Danish kings and the [[Counts of Schauenburg and Holstein|counts of Schauenburg]] about the rule over Schleswig, Amrum and western Föhr became an [[enclave]] of Denmark and contrary to neighbouring areas, it was not any longer a part of the Duchy of Schleswig. This state endured until 1864, when Denmark lost Schleswig to [[Prussia]] after the [[Second Schleswig War]]. For a brief period after that war, Amrum was ruled together by Prussia and Austria, yet in 1867 the island came under Prussian rule and was made a part of the province of Schleswig-Holstein. At first, Amrum formed a municipality within the district of [[Tondern]]. In 1920, the [[Schleswig Plebiscites]] resulted in a clear majority vote for Amrum staying with Germany, while Tondern fell back to Denmark. Until 1972, Amrum belonged to the ''Südtondern'' district which then merged into the newly created district of Nordfriesland.

During the 19th century, Amrum still had a considerably lower population than today. Church records from 1821 to 1833 show an average population of 587, a census in 1860 noted 642 inhabitants, and in 1871, the population had dropped to 571.<ref>{{harvnb|Rheinheimer|2007|p=20}}</ref> Among other factors, the decrease owed to the fact that large parts of Amrum's population had emigrated — mainly to the United States. Today, more people with ancestors from Amrum live in the United States than there are on Amrum proper, and the connections between Amrum and the U.S. are still being cultivated.

Eventually, tourism began only to flourish on the island when a seaside resort was established in Wittdün in 1890, which also led to a rapid increase in population.<ref>{{harvnb|Rheinheimer|2007|p=8}}</ref>

On 29 October 1998, the cargo ship [[MV Pallas|''Pallas'']] ran aground off Amrum, causing a severe [[oil spill]] in the region.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.waddensea-secretariat.org/news/publications/Wsnl/Wsnl99-1/articles/09-reineking.pdf|author=Reineking, Bettina|title=The Pallas Accident|journal=Wadden Sea Newsletter|year=1999|issue=1|pages=22–25|publisher=Common Wadden Sea Secretariat|access-date=2008-09-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071028040404/http://www.waddensea-secretariat.org/news/publications/Wsnl/Wsnl99-1/articles/09-reineking.pdf|archive-date=2007-10-28|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Language and culture==
{{Unreferenced section|date=July 2019}}
The main language on Amrum is [[German language|German]]. The [[North Frisian language]] in the [[Öömrang]] dialect is spoken by roughly a third of the population. Those 800 Amrumers are all multilingual. Due to the isolated location of the islands, the North Frisian dialects developed so differently, that ''Öömrang'' can be understood by people from Föhr, yet is hardly recognisable for those from Sylt or mainland Nordfriesland. Many Amrumers moreover speak [[Low German]], since it had been the language of the coastal sailors. Only a few people speak the [[Danish language]].

Amrum's [[national costume]] for girls and women is coloured black and white and is amply decorated with silver ornaments. It is mostly worn on [[confirmation]] services or at tourist events.

There are two peculiar traditions on Amrum. On February 21 the ''[[Biikebrennen|Biakendai]]'' is celebrated, where a great bonfire is lit to dispel winter. On the occasion, people blacken each other's faces with soot. The festival originates from the old liturgical holiday of [[Cathedra Petri]], which was originally celebrated on February 22. The custom is also popular in other North Frisian municipalities. On [[New Year's Eve]] the ''Hulken'' takes place, where groups of mostly young people dress up in costumes and walk from house to house to let others guess their true identity (similar to [[Halloween]]). Depending on their age, they are either treated with sweets or alcoholic drinks.

==Economy==
Amrum's main branch of economy is tourism. In 2007 the island could provide 12,000 beds. In 2008 approximately 135,000 tourists and 1.3 million lodgings were registered.<ref>{{cite book|title=Amrum 2008 – Jahreschronik einer Insel [Amrum 2008 – Annual Chronicle of an Island] |first=Georg |last=Quedens |author-link=Georg Quedens |language=de|publisher=Jens Quedens |isbn=978-3-924422-85-1 |page=28 |year=2009}}</ref>

Agriculture is also being practised on Amrum and the port hosts a single fisherman.

===Media===
The local newspaper is called ''Der Insel-Bote'' (The Island Courier) and published by the [[Schleswig-Holsteinischer Zeitungsverlag]]. It is the common paper for both [[Föhr]] and Amrum.

Moreover, Amrum was the set for many German cinematic and TV [[film]]s, e.g. ''Tod auf Amrum'' (1998)<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.stimme.de/deutschland-welt/panorama/tv-tipp/tv/tv-spielfilme/TV-2010-06-01-3sat-20-15-00-Tod-auf-Amrum;art5803,1831587 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130717084619/http://www.stimme.de/deutschland-welt/panorama/tv-tipp/tv/tv-spielfilme/TV-2010-06-01-3sat-20-15-00-Tod-auf-Amrum;art5803,1831587 |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 July 2013 |title=Tod auf Amrum |trans-title=Death on Amrum |agency=Teleschau |date=25 May 2010 |language=de |work=Heilbronner Stimme |access-date=16 July 2013 }}</ref> or ''Sommer'' (2008),<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bz-berlin.de/archiv/sommer-mit-jimi-blue-ochsenknecht-ist-der-schoenste-teenie-film-des-jahres-article300544.html |title='Sommer' mit Jimi Blue Ochsenknecht ist der schönste Teenie-Film des Jahres |trans-title='Sommer' with Jimi Blue Ochsenknecht is the year's most beautiful teen film |work=[[B.Z. (newspaper)|B.Z.]] |language=de |date=21 April 2008 |access-date=16 July 2013}}</ref> as well as numerous crime novels. It is also the location that Netflix filmed Black Island.

==Notable people==
* [[Hark Olufs]] (1708-1754), sailor
* [[Knut Jungbohn Clement]] (1803–1873), writer
* [[Georg Quedens]], photographer
* [[Hark Bohm]], actor

==Transport==
The island is connected by ferry services to neighbouring [[Föhr]] and to the mainland at the harbour of [[Dagebüll]].  During the summer season, a fast passenger boat offers services between the ports of [[Hörnum]] on Sylt, the Hallig [[Hooge, Germany|Hooge]] and the harbour of Strucklahnungshörn on [[Nordstrand, Germany|Nordstrand]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.adler-schiffe.de/ab-amrum/ |title=Amrum Ahoi |language=de |work=Adler-Schiffe |access-date=7 June 2020}}</ref> Amrum's terminal is located at Wittdün, the ferries are operated by ''Wyker Dampfschiffs-Reederei GmbH (W.D.R.)''. Most tourists will reach Amrum via Dagebüll. From there, the ferry journey takes 90 minutes on a straight route, but the more usual route via a stop at [[Wyk auf Föhr]] takes 120 minutes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.faehre.de/fileadmin/user_upload/WDR-Fahrplan-DFA2020-web.pdf |title=Fährfahrplan Dagebüll-Föhr-Amrum 2020 |publisher=Wyker Dampfschiffs-Reederei |access-date=7 June 2020 |language=de}}</ref>

The ferry service to the [[Halligen]] and the mainland terminal of Schlüttsiel was terminated in 2019 because the port of Schlüttsiel has become too silted up for extended traffic.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.shz.de/lokales/husumer-nachrichten/schluettsiel-versandet-abgespeckte-fahrstrecke-fuer-halligfaehre-hilligenlei-id21183337.html |title=Schlüttsiel versandet: Abgespeckte Fahrstrecke für Halligfähre 'Hilligenlei' |language=de |first=Petra |last=Kölschbach |work=Husumer Nachrichten |date=29 September 2018 |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://langeness.de/aktuelles/schiffsabfahrten |title=Fährabfahrten |work=Langeness.de |access-date=7 June 2020 |language=de}}</ref>

On the island, the bicycle is the main means of transport next to cars; compared to other areas of Germany, Amrum provides an excellent network of bicycle routes. Numerous bicycle rental services exist for tourists. A bus service connects Norddorf, Nebel and Wittdün on an hourly schedule (every 30 minutes during the summer season). Like the ferries, the bus service is operated by W.D.R..<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.faehre.de/fahrplaene/download-busfahrplaene/ |title=Download Busfahrpläne |work=Faehre.de |publisher=Wyker Dampfschiffs-Reederei |access-date=7 June 2020 |language=de}}</ref> A less common form of transport is [[mudflat hiking]] between Amrum and Föhr.

From 1893 to 1939, a railway service was operated on Amrum. There is no [[airstrip]] on the island because any plans to establish one have so far vehemently been opposed.

==Flora and fauna==
Plants and wild animals on Amrum are marked by the proximity to the sea, but some also distinguish themselves by extreme rarity and a high ecological value worth of protection. This fact was acknowledged by the establishment of two [[nature reserve]]s and Amrum's proximity to the [[Wadden Sea National Parks|Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park]].

===Flora===
[[File:Drosera-rotundifolia.jpg|thumb|left|Common sundew]]
Amrum's vegetation is determined by the sea and by the different types of landscapes on the island, most of which are low in [[nutrient]]s. In parts of the dune belt and on the ''Kniepsand'' [[marram grass]] or [[Artemisia maritima|sea wormwood]] grow, as well as numerous other sand-loving plants like [[Jasione montana|sheep's bit]] which will bloom in sheltered areas between the dunes.<ref name="Groom list">Groom, [http://www.botanicalkeys.co.uk/flora/amrum/floraOfAmrum.html#Droseraceae "A Checklist of the Flora of Amrum"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304030242/http://www.botanicalkeys.co.uk/flora/amrum/floraOfAmrum.html#Droseraceae |date=2016-03-04 }}</ref> Also some stunted pines, bent by the sea wind, and ''[[Salix repens]]'', the creeping willow can be found there. Until the 1970s, the rare [[Eryngium maritimum|sea holly]] could still be seen in the dunes.

East of there are heaths and conifer or mixed forests. In some dune slacks, peat bogs can be found which occasionally host the carnivorous plant [[Drosera rotundifolia|common sundew]].<ref name="Groom list"/> The once abundant [[Gentiana pneumonanthe|marsh gentian]] vanished during the 1990s.

The Amrum forest was mainly planted in 1948 on an area of heath. Until then only a few forested regions could be found around the decoy ponds. With 180 [[hectare]]s, Amrum has the largest ratio of forested land of all Germany's North Sea islands. Mainly pines, firs and birches can be found here. Meanwhile, the forest has largely lost its artificial nature. So one will encounter numerous plants on all levels and many species of [[fungus|fungi]]. The "geestland", east of the forest, is mostly used for farming. Its grassland grows plants such as Harebell (''[[Campanula rotundifolia]]''), Sea Thrift (''[[Armeria maritima]]'') and Carthusian Pink (''[[Dianthus carthusianorum]]'') and several species of [[hawkweed]].<ref name="Groom list"/>

In the small marshlands, some [[Cyperaceae|sedges]] and the [[ragged robin]] may be seen.<ref name="Groom list"/> Here is the most nutritious soil on Amrum. Even the soil of Amrum's gardens is so low in nutrients that only a few sorts of plants, e.g. [[Alcea rosea|hollyhock]], will grow there without fertilising.

On the [[salt marsh]]es along the eastern shore of Amrum, many salt-tolerant species can be found. Pioneer plants such as ''[[salicornia|Salicornia europaea]]'' and [[Puccinellia|alkali grasses]], grow on and stabilize the mudflats.<ref name="Groom list"/>

===Fauna===
[[File:Halichoerus grypus.jpg|thumb|left|Grey seals on a sand bank near Amrum]]
[[File:Wildkaninchen auf Amrum.png|thumb|left|Rabbit sitting in dunes on Amrum]]
Like the vegetation, Amrum's wildlife is determined by the island's location within the North Sea. Thus there are only a few species of wild [[mammal]]s on Amrum, such as hares, mice, hedgehogs and bats. In the 12th century, rabbits were introduced as game. Still today they populate the island. A few years ago a pregnant [[vixen]] was set free on Amrum. She and her offspring caused severe damage to the island's fauna, but since then they have been hunted down. In the sea and on the [[sand bar]]s off Amrum, thus within the National Park, [[harbour seal]]s, [[grey seal]]s and [[harbour porpoise]]s have their habitats. Occasionally in December and January, young grey seals are washed ashore on Amrum's beaches due to [[storm surges]] and are thereafter nursed by the adults. In January 2010 the seal shelter station at [[Friedrichskoog]] announced that more and more female grey seals were "moving away from less favourable birth sites near Amrum and Sylt to [[Heligoland]]."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nordseewolf.de/magazin/13-01-2010/kegelrobben-geburtenrekord-auf-helgoland/ |title=Kegelrobben-Geburtenrekord auf Helgoland |language=de |work=Nordseewolf Magazin |date=13 January 2010 |first=Melanie |last=Hahn |access-date=11 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331005018/http://www.nordseewolf.de/magazin/13-01-2010/kegelrobben-geburtenrekord-auf-helgoland/ |archive-date=31 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Birdlife is particularly plentiful.<ref name=Banck>{{cite book|title=Sylt, Föhr, Amrum |first=Claudia |last=Banck |pages=53–55 |language=de |publisher=DuMont Reiseverlag |year=2010 |isbn=978-3-7701-7312-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QmGrCXwzfSMC&q=Amrum+Fauna&pg=PA52}}</ref> Amrum counts among the most important hatching areas for [[seabird]]s in Germany. It is the only remaining hatching area for the [[Eurasian curlew]] in the Wadden Sea,<ref name=Banck/> and the main hatching region for the [[common eider]], but also [[Eurasian oystercatcher|oystercatchers]],<ref name=Banck/> [[common shelduck|shelducks]], [[Arctic tern]]s,<ref name=Banck/> seagulls like [[European herring gull|herring gulls]],<ref name=Banck/> [[common gull]] and the [[lesser black-backed gull]], as well as many other species, use to hatch there on the beach, in between the dunes or at the mudflats. Since the dunes of Amrum are a protected nature reserve, they are the only dunes along the west coast of Schleswig-Holstein where seagulls and ducks breed. In other dune areas of the North Sea coast these birds are usually scared off by tourists.<ref name="Neuhaus">{{cite book|last1=Neuhaus |last2=Beinker |last3=Bründel |last4=Lange |chapter=Dünen an der Schleswig-Holsteinischen Westküste |language=de |editor= Umweltbundesamt und Nationalparkverwaltungen Niedersächsisches Wattenmeer/Schleswig-Holsteinisches Wattenmeer |series=Umweltatlas Wattenmeer |volume= 1 |title=Nordfriesisches und Dithmarscher Wattenmeer|publisher= Eugen Ulmer |location=Stuttgart |year=1998 |isbn= 3-8001-3491-8 |pages=92–93}}</ref> Additionally vast flocks of [[migratory bird]]s will rest on Amrum during the season, e.g. [[red knot]], [[brent goose]] or [[sanderling]], all of whom are able to find sufficient food along the coasts of Amrum. Moreover, a number of [[songbird]]s can be found and [[pheasant]]s which were equally introduced as game are common.

[[Viviparous lizard|Lizards]] and amphibians, such as [[moor frog]], [[natterjack toad]] and [[smooth newt]] are other examples of land [[vertebrata]].

In the sea surrounding Amrum numerous fish species typical of the North Sea can be found, like [[European plaice|plaice]] and [[atlantic herring]]. A 1940 report mentioned several worms like [[Nematode]]s, [[Archiannelida]], [[Oligochaeta]] and [[Turbellaria]], crustaceans like [[ostracod]]s, and [[ciliate]] [[protozoan]]s in the sands of the Kniepsand beach.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Über eine Mikrofauna im oberen Eulitoral auf Amrum |trans-title=On a Microfauna in the Upper Eulitoral at Amrum |first=Erich |last=Schulz |language=de |journal=Kieler Meeresforschungen |publisher=[[Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences|Institute for Marine Science at Kiel University]] |year=1940 |issue=55 |pages=158–164}}</ref> Since the 1980s, the abundance of [[harbour porpoise]]s in the sea off Amrum and Sylt has been increasing and a protected marine area was created in 1999 to provide shelter for them.<ref name=Banck/><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ciP9yurcbDQC&q=Amrum&pg=RA1-PT80 |title=The Complete Whale-Watching Handbook: A Guide to Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises of the World |page=226 |first1=Ben |last1=Wilson |first2=Angus |last2=Wilson |publisher=MBI Publishing Company |year=2006 |isbn=0-7603-2567-7}}</ref>

The number of other marine species is equally great, the [[Pagurus bernhardus|hermit crab]], the [[Buccinum undatum|common whelk]], and the [[lugworm]] are all among them. Of them, mainly the [[Crangon crangon|sand shrimps]] are commercially used by "harvesting" them from the seabed with [[cutter (boat)|cutter]]s. The shrimps are then wrongly marketed as "crabs" (''Krabben'').

==See also==
*[[Islands of Germany]]
*[[Frisian Islands]]
*[[Talking Gravestones of Amrum]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|33em}}

==References==
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.botanicalkeys.co.uk/flora/amrum/|title=A Checklist of the Flora of Amrum|author=Groom, Quentin|language=en, de|publisher=[[Botanical Society of the British Isles]]|access-date=2007-07-20|archive-date=2007-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928123051/http://www.botanicalkeys.co.uk/flora/amrum/|url-status=dead}}
*{{cite book|first=Georg|last=Quedens|author-link=Georg Quedens|author2=Hans Hingst |author3=Gerhard Stück |author4=Ommo Wilts|title=Amrum. Landschaft, Geschichte, Natur (Amrum. Landscape, History, Nature)|language=de|publisher=Verlag Jens Quedens|year=1991|isbn=3-924422-24-9}}
*{{cite book|first=Georg|last=Quedens|author-link=Georg Quedens|title=Das Seebad Amrum. "... und befürchten den Verderb der guten hiesigen Sitten ..." (The Amrum Seaside Resort "...and fear the decay of the decent local manners...")|edition=new|year=2006|publisher=Verlag Jens Quedens|isbn=978-3-924422-79-0}}
*{{cite book|title=Der Kojenmann – Mensch und Natur im Wattenmeer 1860–1900 |trans-title=The Decoy Man – Man and Nature in the Wadden Sea 1860–1900 |language=de |first=Martin |last=Rheinheimer |publisher=Wachholtz Verlag |location=Neumünster |year=2007 |isbn=978-3-52902-776-5}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{commons}}
*{{wikivoyage-inline|Amrum}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20191127182012/https://www.amrum.de/ Amrum Website] {{in lang|de}}

{{Frisian Islands}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Amrum| ]]
[[Category:Islands of Schleswig-Holstein]]