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Discover Germany

August 29, 2011

Pull up those galoshes and get ready to get a little wet. In the Wadden Sea area of northern Germany the water - and the tide - reigns supreme.

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Wadden Sea
Mudflats are more attractive than they soundImage: picture alliance/dpa

In 2009, the Wadden Sea National Park and the adjoining German and Dutch conservation areas were listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. The Wadden Sea is a stretch of coastline up to 40 kilometers wide, made up of tidal flats and wetlands. It's the largest ecosystem of its kind in the world, and draws millions of tourists a year.

The highlight of a visit to the Wadden Sea is a guided tour through one of the mudflats like the Hallig Norderoog, which is accessible only during low tide. Another popular destination is Juist, an island that can be reached by boat only during high tide.

Visitors to the Wadden Sea soon discover that the ebb and flow of nature determine the schedule of events. The Multimar Wattforum in Tönning offers a glimpse of the astonishing diversity of the flora and fauna here.

The resort town of Sankt Peter-Ording boasts a 12 kilometer (7.5 mile) long and two kilometer wide beach. The three north Friesian islands of Sylt, Föhr and Amrum are another favorite destination

Click on the video below for more.

Text: DW-TV

Editor: Kate Bowen