Rantumbecken

Rantumbecken is a nature reserve on Sylt, with open water, mudflats and salt marshes across its landscape. It began as a planned water airport. That plan changed, leaving a protected wetland and an important bird sanctuary in northern Germany. Fresh North Sea water enters through a sluice. The mixture of fresh and salt water supports breeding and resting places for sea and water birds. The artificial islands occupy the basin’s southeastern area. They provide protected breeding grounds for terns and avocets, with foxes among the predators nearby. Spring migration brings large flocks of dunlins and knots. Autumn migration also brings birds to the reserve, creating changing views across its wetland habitats. A circular walking path runs around the basin. It supports close birdwatching beside the water. Across the reserve, the basin’s habitats support birdlife during breeding and migration periods. Birds use the area for breeding and rest. Rantumbecken links human engineering with a functioning wetland on the island of Sylt. Nature now shapes the basin’s visible landscape.