Hörnum Odde, Spit of land in Hörnum, Sylt, Germany

Hörnum Odde is a narrow spit of land at the southern tip of Sylt island in Schleswig-Holstein, jutting into the North Sea. It is made up of dunes, sandy beaches, and low vegetation, with water visible on both sides.

The two-kilometre spit at Sylt's southern tip has been a nature reserve since 1972. In December 2013 storm Xaver washed out the foundation of the former lower light and destroyed the adjacent viewing platform, causing about 20 metres of land loss along a 200-metre stretch. A storm surge in mid-November 2015 caused severe breaks along 850 metres, with land losses of up to 60 metres, almost cutting off the southern part of the Odde.

The tetrapods, large concrete blocks placed along the shore in the 1960s, are a visible reminder of the effort to hold the land in place. Visitors often walk past them and photograph them, making them an unexpected landmark on the coastal path.

The harbor at Hörnum is the most common starting point for walking around the Odde, with a paved path on the eastern side and sandy terrain on the western side. Visitors should stay away from the edges during rough weather, as the land can be unstable near the waterline.

The former lower light at the tip of the Odde, in service from 1979 to 1997, was dismantled on 7 November 2013 because its collapse was expected; it was stored and re-erected in Hörnum in January 2018 as a monument to coastal protection. Storm Xaver that December exposed its foundation and destroyed the adjacent viewing platform.