Nordfriesland district, Rural district in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.
This administrative area sits along the North Sea coast and includes five large islands plus the Halligen, small parcels of land in the mudflats. The territory runs along the water and connects coastal towns with the offshore landscapes.
Three former administrative units joined together in 1970 to form the present district. Centuries earlier, storm surges destroyed settlements such as Rungholt and reshaped the coastline.
The name comes from the Frisian people who have lived here for centuries and still speak their language in daily life. Visitors can hear North Frisian spoken on the islands and along the coast, while other parts use Low German and Danish in conversation.
Husum serves as the administrative seat and makes a good starting point for exploring the coast and the islands. Ferries connect the mainland with the larger islands, while the Halligen can sometimes be reached on foot at low tide.
The entire coastal zone sits within the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park, a protected area with wide salt marshes and tidal flats. At high tide parts of the landscape disappear under water, while they resurface at low tide.
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