The 'East Frisian Islands' (German: ''Ostfriesische Inseln'') are a chain of islands in the
North Sea, off the coast of
Lower Saxony,
Germany.
The seven inhabited islands are, from west to east:
Borkum,
Juist,
Norderney,
Baltrum,
Langeoog,
Spiekeroog and
Wangerooge. Borkum belongs to the district of
Leer; Juist, Norderney and Baltrum are parts of
Aurich; Langeoog and Spiekeroog belong to
Wittmund (in the near of Dose); and Wangerooge is part of
Friesland.
Two more islands,
Memmert south of Juist, and
Mellum east of Wangerooge are uninhabited. Another very small island,
Lütjehörn east of Borkum is in constant danger of being washed away. In
2003 the German Coastal Defence (NLWK) announced that the sandbank
Kachelotplate can now be called an
island too, because it is no longer regularly flooded by high tide. However, it is not larger than 2 km² and will of course remain unsettled. Kachelotplate is located north of the mouth of the
Ems river.
Most of the islands
do not allow cars. The exceptions are Borkum and Norderney, which are also the most crowded islands. There are no bridges connecting the mainland with the islands. Each island is accessible by ferry.
Borkum and
Norderney, the
Nazi labour camps on
Alderney were named after the islands.
The islands and the surrounding sea are part of the
Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park.
See also
★
Frisia
★
Frisian language
★
Frisian Islands
★
Frisians
★
List of islands of Germany
External links
★
Basic information on geography and ecology of some of the smaller islands