Ballum Sluse, Lock system in Tønder Municipality, Denmark
Ballum Sluse is a lock that directs water from the Brede Å River through the Ballum-Alstrup dike toward the Wadden Sea. The structure uses gates and mechanical systems to control water flow between inland waterways and coastal areas.
This lock was built starting in 1914 with work completed largely by French and Russian prisoners of war during World War I. The structure reflects early 1900s advances in Danish water management engineering.
The lock represents an essential component of Danish water management infrastructure, demonstrating the relationship between local communities and coastal environments.
Visitors can walk along the dike path to find viewing points overlooking the lock and its mechanisms. The site is accessible throughout the year and open to casual visitors at any time.
Millions of starlings gather in this area during spring and autumn months, performing synchronized flight patterns near sunset. This natural effect of the lock on local wildlife routes often goes unnoticed by visitors focused mainly on the engineering structure itself.
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