Læsø
Læsø (also Laesoe or before Our Lady's Country ) is a Danish island in the northern Kattegat. The overall community, it has 1839 inhabitants (1 January 2013). The approximately 101 km ² large island (1916 figure was 116.4 km ² ) is the least populated municipality in Denmark. Originally formed Læsø own Harde in Hjørring Office, consisting of the parishes Byrum Sogn ( 43.89 km ², the capital Byrum, 440 inhabitants), neck Sogn ( 24.55 km ², the capital Osterby Havn, 281 inhabitants) and Vesterø Sogn (48, 06 km ², the capital Vesterø harbor, 364 inhabitants) ( population figures. 1 January 2013) Starting in 1970 made the island a separate municipality in north- Amt, which remained unchanged in the course of municipal reform on 1 January 2007 and is now the smallest municipality in Denmark region Nordjylland heard.
The name comes from Læsø the fabled giant LAER or freezer, the god of the wind. ø means " island ", or " Island of the LAER ".
Geography
Along the north side there is a line of dunes. The highest dune hill, Højsande, reaches a height of 24 meters.
Seven kilometers north of Vesterø harbor are the small rocky islands Nordre Rønner associated with Læsø through the shallow sandbar Rønnerev. On the main island Spirholm stands the lighthouse Nordre Rønner Fyr.
History
After the melting of the Weichselian ice age glaciers 12,000 to 10,000 years ago the ground was freed from the ice pressure and the country rose for the first time about the former sea level. During the postglacial Littorina transgression about 7,000 years ago, the land uplift was slower than the rise in sea level and Læsø was again flooded by the sea. Apparently, at this stage, at times no more than a couple of sandbars to see where in the Neolithic clay was recovered. From Southern Sweden and the Danish mainland from coastal residents drove the sandbanks. They left behind pottery shards and arrowheads, which allow a dating.
Years ago, about 3,000 Læsø finally lifted in the course of isostatic land uplift finally out of the sea. The island is increased gradually since then, including through ever new beach ridges of rocks and boulders that are visible in many places of the island.
1910 was found in Byrum, which located approximately in the middle of the main town of the island, a sperm whale skeleton; this proves the utter overflush of Læsø about 4000 years ago. For the migration period they re-emerged and stands out since forever. The Læsø stone in Nordmarken marks the presumably oldest survey ( "Her fœdtes Læsø af havet " - " Here Læsø rose from the sea" ). Among the most recent surveys of Læsø include in the west of the island of Stokken, one with beach grass and some bushes overgrown, about 150 meters offshore island ( surfaced around 1920 and walking through a shallow tidal creek to reach ) and the Lille Knot. Currently, Læsø lifts with 6 mm per year, about three times as fast as the Alps.
The climate is different than on the mainland. Together with Anholt Læsø is part of the Danish desert belt, as the summers are relatively dry. During the summer months the rainfall is so low that streams and ponds dry up partially to the ground.
In the Middle Ages the island was famous for the production of salt. This is due to the geological feature, the saline ground water, which may reach up to about 15 percent salt. The flat salt marshes of the so-called Rønner on the south side of the island are regularly flooded in winter storms. In summer, the salty ground water is concentrated by sun and drought, as it is only covered by a few meters earth. The salty ground water was evaporated in hundreds salt- huts and delivered to Viborg. Wood consumption was high, so that the island was completely deforested in the late Middle Ages and sandstorms villages buried. 1652 then the boiling of salt was banned.
With the reforestation of the island was begun in the 1920s, so that today hardly a dozen trees on Læsø are older than 100 years. In the population reforestation was not without controversy, as many Læsøer from the beach piracy lived and had to rely on free view to notice stranded ships early. The new trees interfered with the view.
Since the late 1980s, are constructed and operated again as a project of experimental archeology as well as for tourism Salzsiedehütten. Meanwhile, the Læsø salt is widely available in Denmark. From the Lake, which remains at the boiling of salt, since 2002 dermatological products for psoriasis, eczema and other skin diseases are made.
On Læsø there are five churches, four of them have towers. The Church in Byrum has a carillon in the tower, and in the " Vesterø - Sondre - Kirke " hangs the oldest bell Læsø. It was cast in 1640 by the French bell founder Franz Voillardi. The second oldest bell has the " Østerby Church ". It was cast in 1658 by Hans Meyer. The larger bell dates from the year 1955 by the English bell foundry John Taylor & Co. The old bell is originally from the so-called " neck - Church." From the Neck Church today are seen only a few stones, because dunes have buried this little church. All the church bells ringing on Læsø morning together at 6 clock. The " White Church " in Vesterø was deconsecrated in 2005. The nave was demolished, the tower stood as a landmark. Instead of the nave a luxurious salt water bath was built.
A peculiarity of the island are covered with the seaweed roofs of the houses that were around 1960 on the island very often. Now there are only the museum courtyard På Lynget and Hedvigs Hus.
Economy
Major lines of business on Læsø are tourism, fishing and wool industry. Above all, the Norway lobster ( Nephrops norvegicus, local: " Jomfruhummer " ) is one of the main export products of the island; in addition to tourism, the " Læsø Fiskeindustri " the largest employer on the island.
Traffic
The island is reached by a ferry from Frederikshavn. In addition, the island has an airport with regular connections to Sindal, Aalborg and Copenhagen.