Krummsteert-Sulsdorfer Wiek / Fehmarn

Krummsteert-Sulsdorfer Wiek is a protected area covering about 395 hectares at the southwestern corner of Fehmarn island. It includes coastal sections of the Baltic Sea, salt marshes, brackish water ponds, and the distinctive Krummsteert peninsula.

The Sulsdorfer Wiek section was originally a shallow marine bay that was transformed into a carp pond system through diking at the end of the 1800s. These habitat changes continue to shape the area's appearance and ecology today.

The name Krummsteert comes from Low German meaning curved tail, referring to how the peninsula bends into the bay. You can see this distinctive shape clearly when walking along the reserve's pathways or viewing it from the water.

The reserve can be explored from designated walking paths near Orth harbor, which have information panels about local birds and plants. Wear sturdy footwear and be prepared for muddy ground, especially in the marsh areas and around the water bodies.

The Krummsteert peninsula continuously extends into Orther Bay and has grown about 900 meters seaward over recent decades through natural deposit and erosion processes. This ongoing reshaping makes the peninsula a place where you can literally see the landscape changing.