Habel | |
Archipelago: | North Frisian Islands |
Area Km2: | 0.074 |
Length M: | 655 |
Width M: | 100 |
Country: | Germany |
Country Admin Divisions Title: | State |
Country Admin Divisions: | Schleswig-Holstein |
Country Admin Divisions Title 1: | District |
Country Admin Divisions 1: | Nordfriesland |
Country Admin Divisions Title 2: | Municipality |
Country Admin Divisions 2: | Gröde |
Additional Info: | protected |
Hallig Habel (Danish: Habel, North Frisian: Haabel) is the smallest Hallig in the German Wadden Sea, and is a bird sanctuary. It is administered by the Gröde municipality on the neighbouring island. The surface area of Habel measures 7.4 hectares[1] with about 655 metres in length, and 100 metres width.
On this island there is an artificial dwelling hill called Norderwarft with a house that hosts an ornithological observatory during the summertime.[1] A second hill on the southern shore, Süderwarft, was abandoned in the 19th century and was then destroyed by the sea.
Habel is located in Protection Area 1 of the Schleswig Holstein Wadden Sea National Park. The common public must therefore not enter the island.[2] The island is owned by the state of Schleswig-Holstein and is leased by Verein Jordsand, a non-profit association for environmental protection with its seat in Ahrensburg.[1] Habel serves as breeding and resting grounds for many species of marine birds like the brant goose[2] and the Arctic tern.