Kachelotplate

The Kachelotplate is a high sand which lies in the Lower Saxon Wadden Sea to the North Sea and is accessible only by boat. It is in 1840, located in a map of the region and is now about five kilometers southwest of the island of Juist, about three kilometers west of the bird island Memmert and approximately seven kilometers northeast of the island of Borkum. Between 2000 and 2005, it has slowly moved towards Memmert. The name derives from the French word " cachalot " for " sperm whale " from.

Development of Kachelotplate

In 1975, already a little sand had stood out in mean high tide, 2004, the total area of 230 hectares, which extended over a distance of three kilometers and width of up to one kilometer. The highest elevations until 2006 up to 2.5 m high dunes with grass cover first, but they were leveled again after the severe storm tide on 31 October and 1 November 2006. A laser survey conducted in 2007 revealed an area of ​​only 172 hectares. Since then the area of ​​the Kachelotplate is not grown, but it has become higher. It is therefore less threatened by floods and develops slowly in character to an island. At the same time it moves slowly toward the island Memmert and is expected to unite in the longer term with her.

The Kachelotplate as habitat

The Kachelotplate part of the protection zone (zone I) of the Wadden Sea National Park and may not be entered. Also, they must not be surrounded by boats or unnecessary overflown by aircraft.

In January 2006, it was observed that in addition to seals also a group had settled gray seals on the Kachelotplate. When an inspection on 29 November 2006, two young gray seals have been spotted again. Despite the morphological changes of the Plate yet this still seems to be suitable as a berth for gray seals and harbor seals. It is believed that established a permanent gray seal colony at the eastern end of the plate.

Gallery

The Kachelotplate on a nautical chart of the German Bight from 1881