Rotes Kliff

The Rotes Kliff is a coastal cliff formation on Sylt that stretches several kilometers between Wenningstedt and Kampen, rising roughly 30 meters above the shoreline. The red coloration comes from iron oxides present in glacial deposits, creating a distinctive visual appearance along the North Sea coast.

The cliff formed during glacial processes approximately 120,000 years ago in the Saale glaciation period, when glaciers shaped the rock and deposited iron oxides. Over the centuries, seafarers navigated by this distinctive red formation as a natural landmark along the North Sea.

The cliff has long served as a distinctive landmark in local maritime culture and seafaring traditions, with its red coloring making it instantly recognizable to sailors and fishermen. Visitors walking along the edge gain a sense of how this natural formation has anchored the region's connection to the sea.

The cliff can be accessed via walking paths and viewing platforms that offer direct views of the rock face and the North Sea. Parking areas are available near Risgap in Wenningstedt, making it easy to reach the site from the town.

The red coloring comes not from surface erosion but from iron oxide deposits locked within the glacial till, preserved since the last ice age. This geological feature turns the cliff into a natural record of ancient climate and landscape changes.