The Hindenburg Dam is an impressive structure that connects the North Frisian island of Sylt with the mainland of Schleswig-Holstein. The 11-kilometer-long dam, which serves exclusively for rail traffic, was opened on June 1, 1927 and named after the then President of the Reich, Paul von Hindenburg, although the name only became popular after the fact. Construction began in 1923 and took four years, using over 3 million cubic meters of sand and clay and 120,000 tons of stone to build the dam and protect it from the tides.
Originally the dam was a single-track dam, and a second track was added in 1972 to meet increasing traffic demands. Today, over 100 trains pass over the dam every day, including both passenger trains and car trains transporting vehicles to the island. This is particularly important as there is no road connection to Sylt.
The construction of the dam also had an environmental impact. It changed the flow conditions in the Wadden Sea and contributed to silting. In addition, the dam allows predators such as foxes and badgers access to the island, which has negative consequences for the local birdlife.