Juist, Coastal spa island in Lower Saxony, Germany
Juist is a 17-kilometer stretch of sand in the North Sea, a barrier island off Lower Saxony with fine beaches and foam rolling onto the shore. It runs narrow between tidal flats and open water, with dunes and small settlements along its middle strip.
Storm surges during the 17th and 18th centuries split the landmass in two, until a protective dike closed the gap around 1770. The barrier of dunes stabilized the shape and allowed permanent settlement to take hold.
Locals call this place Töwerland in East Frisian dialect, a name tied to centuries of seafaring life. Visitors notice rows of wicker chairs facing the waves and hear the clip of hooves as carriages pass through the narrow lanes.
Cars are forbidden, so visitors travel by bicycle or take a horse-drawn carriage for longer distances. The paths are flat and the terrain open, making it easy to find your way around.
Lake Hammersee switched from saltwater to freshwater in 1928 after repairs sealed the northern shore. The small lake sits behind the dunes and now holds a quiet pond character quite different from the sea beside it.
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