Schlei, Baltic Sea inlet in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
Schlei is a Baltic Sea inlet in Schleswig-Holstein that stretches 32 kilometers from Kappeln to the city of Schleswig. The water narrows in places to a few hundred meters wide and forms numerous coves along its winding course.
Vikings settled at the head of the inlet in the ninth century and founded Hedeby there as a trading center. The inhabitants later moved their settlement to the opposite shore and created what is now Schleswig.
Fishing villages along the water still maintain small harbors where boats are moored in wooden slips built generations ago. Sailors follow the same routes used by coastal traders for centuries.
Boat rental stations operate in several towns along the shore, where docking points for private boats are also available. The best water access is found in the larger settlements on both shores.
The waterway separates the Angeln peninsula to the north from Schwansen to the south, creating a natural boundary. Extensive reed belts grow along the shores and provide habitat for waterfowl.
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