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Natural Monuments

Reed harvest at Morsum-Kliff

Natural Monuments

Reed harvest at Morsum-Kliff

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Reed harvest at Morsum-Kliff

Recommended by 81 hikers out of 86

This Highlight is in a protected area

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Morsum-Kliff

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Location: Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

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Best Hikes to Reed harvest at Morsum-Kliff

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1. Morsum Cliff – Morsum Cliff loop from Friedrich-Wilhelm-Lübke-Koog

4.19km

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Hard hike. Great for any fitness level. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

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4.8

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562

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2. Morsum Cliff – Morsum Cliff loop from Morsum

10.0km

02:35

40m

Hard hike. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

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4.8

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566

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3. Morsum Cliff – Morsum Cliff loop from Friedrich-Wilhelm-Lübke-Koog

3.38km

00:53

20m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Joe Outside

May 27, 2024

Reed was stored along the hiking trail through the Morsum Cliff.

Translated by Google •

Schwerte-Radler

March 14, 2025

Thatch harvesting on Sylt has a long tradition and is closely linked to the island's characteristic appearance, particularly through its numerous thatched-roof houses. Thatch, also known as reed, prefers to grow on shores and in marshy areas. On Sylt, it is found primarily in the so-called "Kögen," or drained marshlands. Popular locations for thatch fields include the ditches of the Nösse, which serve as drainage, as well as the transition areas from the Geest to the Wadden Sea.

The harvesting season for thatch begins after the first frost, when the plants die and turn a golden brown. Traditionally, the thatch was cut with a scythe, but today, modern machines are often used to meet demand. After harvesting, the stalks are stripped of leaves and gathered into bundles, which are then thoroughly dried to ensure the high quality of the building material.

There are currently only a few thatch farmers on Sylt, whose annual yield is sufficient to cover a maximum of two houses. Therefore, a large portion of the required thatch is imported from other countries such as Romania, Ukraine, and Hungary.

Thatched roofs are a defining feature of Sylt's architecture. In towns like Kampen, thatched roofs are even required to preserve the historic appearance. These roofs not only offer aesthetic advantages but also excellent insulation properties, keeping houses warm in winter and cool in summer.

Maintaining thatched roofs requires regular maintenance to ensure their longevity. With proper installation and care, thatched roofs can last for several decades, thus contributing to the preservation of Sylt's traditional landscape.

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Burg-Berg

January 7, 2024

Here reed is harvested by hand. Reet (other spellings are also known), also known as reed, refers to the reed that often grows near the banks and with which many roofs are/are covered here on Sylt. After harvesting, the reed is dried before it can be processed.
The thatch is harvested with great effort, often almost entirely by hand or using specially adapted machines or custom-made products, which are often self-made. Covering thatched roofs is considered one of the oldest craft techniques in house building in Germany.

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Elevation 50 m

Weather

Sunday 18 January

2°C

-1°C

0 %

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Max wind speed: 20.0 km/h

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Location: Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

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Reed harvest at Morsum-Kliff

1. Morsum Cliff – Morsum Cliff loop from Friedrich-Wilhelm-Lübke-Koog

2. Morsum Cliff – Morsum Cliff loop from Morsum

3. Morsum Cliff – Morsum Cliff loop from Friedrich-Wilhelm-Lübke-Koog

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