Home Blog Page 8

Go for a swim – without wearing swimwear?

Marianne Riis
-
0
Go for a swim – without wearing swimwear?
In general, the beaches along Denmark’s about 8,000 km of coastline are clothing-optional.

Is it legal to go for a swim – without wearing swimwear?

“Denmark – the most shameless nation on the planet” according to a survey once conducted by the University of Zürich.
In 1969, Denmark became the first country in the world to legalize pornography. Nudity is not new to Danes and maybe that is why the Danes not are afraid of nudism. Although it is only practiced by few.
Scandinavia including Denmark is probably the most open-minded region in the world. It is legal in Denmark for nudists to swim naked, or to sunbathe either topless or completely in the nude.

In general, the beaches along Denmark’s about 8,000 km of coastline are clothing-optional. Should it be prohibited as an exception, a sign will let you know. Nudism at the beaches is accepted and widespread in Denmark, however the majority of the Danes are using swimwear.

It is widely accepted to swim without swimwear – especially if you show consideration for the sensibilities of other users by keeping a reasonable distance. Credit: Dreamstime.com

Note that if a beach is not a dedicated Danish nudist beach, anyone without clothing has a certain obligation to show consideration for the sensibilities of other users by keeping a reasonable distance from them.

I you want to go for a fresh up in the lake or the sea – after a long day hiking – just go for it! With – or without your swimwear if you do not want to bother with wet clothes.
If you are a bit shy it is not that difficult to find remote beaches with no or few people.

Source: NaturMagasinet.dk – The Danish Nature and Outdoor Magazine.

The Cliffs of Møn

Marianne Riis
-
0
The Cliffs of Møn
Møns Klint (the Cliffs of Møn) is a 6-7 km stretch of chalk cliffs along the eastern coast of the Danish island of Møn in the Baltic Sea. Credit: Bob Collowan/Commons/CC-BY-SA-4.0

The Cliffs of Møn are a 6-7 km stretch of chalk cliffs along the eastern coast of the Danish island of Møn in the Baltic Sea.

Some of the cliffs fall a sheer 120 m to the sea below. The chalk forming the cliffs consists of the remains of shells from millions of microscopic creatures (coccolithophores) which lived on the seabed over 70 million years ago.

The area around Møns Klint consists of woodlands, pastures, ponds and steep hills, including Aborrebjerg which, with a height of 143 m, is one of the highest points in Denmark. The cliffs and adjacent park are now protected as a nature reserve.
Because of the special nature of the chalky soil, there are many rare plants in the area, particularly several varieties of orchid which are at their best in early summer.
There are clearly marked paths for walkers, riders and cyclists. The path along the cliff tops leads to steps down to the shore in several locations.

In the recent years, the peregrine falcon, the World’s fastest birds, has been breeding at the steep cliffs.

Sources: moensklint.dk, Wikipedia.

Organic Denmark

Marianne Riis
-
0
Organic Denmark


Almost 10 per cent of all foods sold in Denmark are organically cultivated, which is a world record.

The Danish consumers are the most pro-organic consumers in the world. In fact Denmark has the world’s highest organic share and the most well-developed organic market.
Denmark was the first country in the world to introduce an organic logo that guarantees control by national authorities.

The Danish organic logo is also given to cafees and restaurants that serve organic meals. One of the strongest selling points for eating organic foods had been to reduce our exposure to pesticides and insecticides. Besides in some agriculture areas, pollution of groundwater courses with synthetic fertilizers and pesticides can be a major problem.

Organic farming also helps preserve more natural habitat areas and encourages a more healthy biodiversity.
Read more at organicdenmark.com

Sources: Ministry of Environment and Food in Denmark, organicdenmark.com.

The migrating sand dunes of Råbjerg Mile

Marianne Riis
-
0
The migrating sand dunes of Råbjerg Mile
Råbjerg Mile. In front: Remains of settlements from the time before the migrating sand dunes buried builings.

South of Skagen, you will find one of the largest migrating sand dunes in Europe.
Rabjerg Mile’s documented history begins in the 1700s. By then Denmark had been plagued for centuries by sand drifts that destroyed farmlands, buried buildings and forced villages to be abandoned.

“It is to be feared that the whole of North Jutland will be covered with sand and virtually laid waste,” a city official in Aalborg wrote in 1726.
In northern Jutland in the 16th and 17th centuries shifting dunes were a problem for the population: huge dunes, some stretching up to 7 km (4 mi) inland, drove them back from the coastal areas, but in the 19th century the Danish government acted to alleviate the problem.

Råbjerg Mile is Northern Europe’s largest migrating dune.

The Sand Drift Act of 1857 allowed the state to buy or expropriate areas of sand drift, and a further Act in 1857 allowed the purchase of areas adjacent to the drifts. Dune grasses and conifers were planted to stabilize the sands and these plantations became common after 1880.

While the majority of dunes were stabilised by planting, the Råbjerg Mile was left to allow future generations to understand the problem of sand dune drift.
The wind moves it in a north-easterly direction up to 18 metres (59 ft) a year. The dune leaves a low, moist layer of sand behind it, trailing back westwards towards the sea, where the Mile originally formed more than 300 years ago.

Source: Wikipedia, CNN.

Watching birds in Denmark

Marianne Riis
-
0
Watching birds in Denmark

Denmark can offer a wealth of birdlife at all seasons.

Denmark lies on the main migration routes between continental Europe and the rest of Scandinavia. In spring and autumn, a massive migration of landbirds – both raptors and passerines – takes place, while enormous numbers of wildfowl and waders stop off, some of them even spending winter here.

The total list of birds of Denmark includes more than 500 species. About 200 species are breeding in Denmark.
In the northernmost part of Jutland is Skagen. Skagen acts as a bottleneck and is probably Northern Europe’s best spring migration point for birds of prey. Migration here starts in April and ends in mid June.

Black stork at Skagen.
A migrating black stork in the sky above Skagen in May.

Birdsites and access

In Denmark there are many great bird watching sites. Learn more about birding sites in Denmark. In Denmark there is in general free access to forests, beaches and uncultivated land like heaths, bogs and marshes provided you can enter the areas legally. Forcing one’s way through private gardens or farmed fields is not allowed. In public forests it is normally allowed to walk everywhere anytime. In private woods you are only allowed to walk or cycle along roads and pathways during daytime without a permission from the owner.

Boardwalks at Vejlerne Nature Reserve.
Vejlerne Nature Reserve, Denmark’s largest scientific reserve. One of the most important bird sanctuaries in Northern Europe.

Vejlerne nature reserve is located in Northern Jutland, Denmark. The nature reserve covers an area of about 60 km² – meadows, reed beds, and lakes – and is one of the most important bird sanctuaries in Northern Europe. Around the reserve you will find several bird observation towers.

Sources: fatbirder.com, dof.dk. Featured image at top: © Wavebreakmedia Ltd | Dreamstime.com.

Making a camp fire at the beach?

Marianne Riis
-
0
Making a camp fire at the beach?

Camp fire at the beach? It is okay but keep it small.

Public rights on the foreshore and in tidal waters have a long history and tradition in Denmark. These rights have not been fully defined but include shooting wildfowl, fishing for sea fish, gathering some uncultivated shellfish, lighting fires, swimming, playing on the sand and picnicking.

Camp fires are only allowed in the part of the beach where there is no vegetation.
Regarding lighting fires at the beaches, it is only allowed in the part of the beach where there is no vegetation. Normally the land between the high-water mark and the low water mark.

If you do wish to light an open fire, keep it small, under control and supervised. Fires that get out of control can cause major damage, for which you might be liable. Also, if your fireplace can be mistaken by other people for an uncontrolled fire – they might alarm the Fire Department and you will might be held liable.

Do not cover the fire with sand when you leave it. The embers can stay warm for a long time and maybe cause burn injuries if someone steps into it. Use water instead!

Source: The Danish Environmental Protection Agency, mst.dk.

Can I stay overnight at the public beaches?

Marianne Riis
-
0
Can I stay overnight at the public beaches?
A Danish family sleeping on the beach for a night. The outdoor trend has become more popular in recent years. Tents are not allowed at the public beaches meaning you can spend the whole night looking up at the stars.

Is it okay to sleep for the night at the public beaches?

Well, if the weather is fine you can! However, campers and tents are not allowed. It is okay to grab your sleeping bag and face the stars for a night. To prevent permanent camps you can only stay for one night at the same place.

Source: The Danish Environmental Protection Agency, mst.dk.

Denmark wants to be independent of fossil fuels.

Marianne Riis
-
0
Denmark wants to be independent of fossil fuels.


Green Energy

Sustainable economic growth and security of energy and water supply are among the greatest global challenges today. As the first country in the world, Denmark has decided to lead the transition and become a green and resource efficient economy entirely independent of fossil fuels by 2050.

Today, more than 40 per cent of Denmark’s energy supply comes from wind power and the plan is to reach 50 per cent by 2020, as set out in the 2012 Energy Act. In 2050, the plan is for Denmark to be 100 per cent free of fossil fuel and wind energy will make up a very large part of the energy mix by then.

The dark side of the windmills success is that many Danes think that the increasing number of wind farms are ruining the landscape. Remote countrysides with endless horizons (appealing to many tourists) are today broken many places by windfarms. In addition, the windmills seem to become higher and higher – with increasing impact on the scenery.
Furthermore several Danish scientists have documented that the wind farms also can have an negative influence on wildlife like bats and some migrating birds.

Sources: stateofgreen.com, Denmark.dk.

Bulbjerg – the bird cliff of Jutland

Marianne Riis
-
0
Bulbjerg – the bird cliff of Jutland
From the Stone Age until around the beginning of our era, Bulbjerg was an island in the sea. Photo: Niels Lisborg.

Bulbjerg is a protected nature area, and a beautiful place to visit.

Bulbjerg is a limestone cliff in northern Jutland, Denmark, facing the sea of Skagerrak. It is the only rock formation in Jutland and the only bird cliff on the Danish mainland, and as such the only breeding place of the black-legged kittiwake on the Danish mainland.
The limestone cliff is 47 meters high and provide a magnificent view over the sea and the coastal land.

View from Bulbjerg. Credit: NaturGrafik.dk

In the plantations, forest and open areas around Bulbjerg, there is a opportunity to see red deer and roe deer – the best chance is early morning and at dusk. The forest here are pointed out as one of the best Danish habitats for wolves. However, only a single migrating wolf is recorded during the latest years.

Many rare species of plants are found here including the endemic Eyebright flower (Euphrasia dunensis) and some rare Orchids.

Sources: visitthy.dk, visitnature.com, wikipedia.

Be aware of ticks

VisitNature
-
0
Be aware of ticks
Ticks are common during summer time in Denmark. Credit: NaturGrafik.dk

How to take precautions against ticks and Lyme disease.

The castor bean tick is found across Europe including Denmark. It may reach a length of 11 mm (0.43 in) when engorged with a blood meal, and can transmit both bacterial and viral pathogens such as the causative agents of Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis.

Only a very small proportion of ticks carry Lyme disease, and not all infections are severe, but it makes sense to avoid them in the first place.

Be aware of the likely presence of ticks in long grass and bracken, especially on warm, windless, humid days. Ticks are most active between April and October.

A tick crawling on an arm. Credit: NaturGrafik.dk

Use an effective insect repellent. Tuck trousers into socks, and wear light clothing, so that ticks can be spotted easily.

The most important thing is for those that think they might have symptoms of Lyme disease to go to the GP as prompt treatment will prevent complications. Symptoms usually take between a few days to six weeks to appear after a tick bite.

Source: Wikipedia.

1...789Page 8 of 9