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The Hirsholm islets
The Hirsholmen islets is situated approximtaly 7 kilometre north-east of Frederikshavn. It is only on the main Islet Hirsholm that people are living, and in fact there is only 8-10 residents for the time beeing. Beside the main Islet there is one larger Islet "Græsholm" and a group of smaller islets "Tyvholm", "Kølpen" and "Deget", in all ca. 45 hectares.
In 1938 all of the islets where preserved as a scientific reserve, mainly because of the enoumus number of birds nesting on the islets. In 1981 the reserve where increased to indemnify the surrounding sea area consisting of ca. 2.400 hectares.
The landscape is mainly build by heavy quantities of rocks and banks on the beaches, generated by sea sediment. At some of the islets the rocks has in the course of time been overlayed by a small layer of soil which have been generated by putrefactet seaweed.
The small islets "Tyvholm" and "Kølpen" is almoust completely bare, and consist only by the rocks, and thereby they give an empression of the way all of the islets used to be a long time ago.
Sediment carried by the see around the islets have been desposited on a few spots, and made small sandy beaches, especially on the north side of "Græsholm" and the main Islet Hirsholm
The habitat of stony islets with northern Atlantic seabird colonies is very rare in Denmark. The nationally red listed bird Anthus spinoletta breeds at the site. The site is a resting and feeding area, especially for diving ducks. The islets are a breeding area for the following waterbird species: Larus ridibundus, L. canus, Sterna sandvicensis and Cepphus grylle.
The islets are state-owned and surrounded by territorial waters. The site is important for marine biology research. There is a visitor centre at the site. Many tourists visit the Islet of Hirsholm in summer by boat or small "ferry".
The site is an EU Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) and an EU Special Area for Conservation (Habitats Directive). In 1929 the site was declared a Scientific Sanctuary. There are also some Wildlife Reserves inside the site. In 1995 the existing conservation regulations were revised by a new Ministerial Order pursuant to the Conservation of Nature Act. The area protected against hunting remains unchanged (500 hectares) and the total Conservation Area has been extended to cover approximately 2,400 hectares. A management plan is in place for parts of the total area.
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Click on images to enlarge
Reserve map
Old arial photo
The lighthouse
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The Hirsholmen islets