summer vacation - Dangerous - Unguarded beach section on Sylt
Due to a shoreline retreat at Westerland beach on Sylt, a smaller section of the main beach is not guarded by lifeguards. Signs indicate that this section is unguarded due to a sand shortage.
The Sylt Tourism-Service GmbH spokesperson wants to sensitize guests through comprehensive signage and extensive information to use supervised swimming areas. As reported by "Bild" earlier, swimming at the edges can be dangerous, as the water may suddenly become deep.
Every year before the start of the season, it is checked which locations are suitable for lifeguard stands and the associated supervised swimming areas. Therefore, it is not unusual for the locations of supervised swimming areas to change from season to season. Since the West Coast is a unique natural area that is constantly changing, this is to be expected.
Swimming in the North Sea can be dangerous, especially during stormy weather
Swimming and bathing in the North Sea can always be associated with risks. The Isle of Sylt Tourism GmbH points this out, for example, wind and currents can carry inflatables and other items away quickly.
Undertows form in certain weather conditions or, for example, at breakwaters. It is recommended to only visit supervised beaches and pay attention to the beach flag system.
Numerous small storm surges in the winter
In this winter, not large storm surges, but numerous individual so-called edge surges of the sandy coast have added sand to the North Sea. According to the Schleswig-Holstein Coastal, National Park and Sea Protection Agency (LKN), there were twelve such occurrences in this season. Other North Sea islands also reported significant losses of beaches in the spring.
According to LKN, every year about 1.2 million cubic meters of sand are pumped in front of Sylt to protect the coast.
However, this measure serves only coastal protection. Touristic considerations do not play a role in the decision of which beach gets how much sand, according to the LKN.
- The abrupt shoreline retreat in the summer vacation at Westerland beach in Sylt led to a smaller unguarded section due to a sand shortage.
- Despite the constant changes in the West Coast being a unique feature of Nature, swimming in the unsupervised section can be dangerous due to sudden depths.
- The Tourism-Service GmbH in Sylt advocates for leisure activities in supervised swimming areas near the North Sea, where lifeguards are present to ensure safety.
- Westerland, situated in the North Sea coast of Schleswig-Holstein, is prone to numerous small storm surges in winter, contributing sand to the shore section, as reported by LKN.
- Although the North Sea Tourism involves risks, only visiting supervised beaches and diligently following the beach flag system can minimize these dangers.
