National Park – Protecting Nature

The Western Pomerania Lagoon Area National Park contains 80,500 hectares of wild seaside landscape. The erosion caused by the sea’s waves over the centuries has resulted in rock formations with a bizarre beauty unlike anywhere else. Spits, sand bars, and countless small islands. An unspoilt paradise with steep and flat coasts for native animal species and migratory birds who come here from all over Europe.

There is no other place like it: the shallow lagoons, coastal lakes, mud flats and salt grass islands. This natural landscape between the Darß peninsula, the Hiddensee and West Rügen has been left untouched in a way seen nowhere else in the major regions of Central Europe. Eels, pipefish, cranes and many other species make their homes here. It is also the most important winter home for migratory birds in the Baltic region.

Another special feature about this place: the coast is constantly shifting. just as the sea takes away earth and sand from the cliffs, it is constantly being deposited on other spots such as the Darß.

To protect this dynamic, intact environment, 80,500 hectares have been turned into the Baltic Sea National Park where nature will be allowed free rein without human intervention. Marvelling allowed, intervention not. The national park regulations provide rules to ensure that the Baltic coast and the lagoon landscape are preserved for future generations. It is an extremely rare and highly endangered ecosystem.