Texel Dunes National Park

Nationaal Park Duinen van Texel Is a national park located on the Frisian island Texel in the Netherlands. All dunesystems on the western side of the island and the large coastal plains on both the northern and southern points of the island are part of the park.The park covers approximately 43 square kilometres and got its status of national park in 2002.The visitor center is located in natural history museum Ecomare.

In 1927 botanist Jac. P. Thijsse made a illustrated book about the flora and fauna on the island, and pointed out the major Environmental Values of the island. This book was one of a series, you got the book almost for free, and the a few pictures came free with each Verkade chocolate bar. [cite book | last=Thijsse | first Jac. P. | last2=Thijsse | first2 | title=Texel | publisher=Verkade | date=1927 | ISBN=none]

There are many walking trails were you follow either red, yellow, blue or green signsThe green routes are not accessible during the breading season. Many bicycle trails go across the park as well.

Areas

*De Hors
*De Geul
*De Mok
*De Bollekamer
*De Westerduinen
*De Dennen
*Het Duinpark
*Calnifornië-bos
*De Seetingsnollen
*Camping Kogerstrand
*De Muy
*De Slufter
*De Haneplas
*Krimbos
*Eijerlandse Duinen
*Camping de Robbejager

De Hors

"The Hors" is at the far most southern point of Texel and is largely owned by the Dutch Ministry of Defence. The terrain is used for amphibious training, the defense complex build on the "Mok bay" there is called "de Mok". The southern part of the Hors is a large coastal plain which was formed because in the past shoals “walked” toward the island, the last shoal to do so was "Onrust" in 1910.

On the plains new dunes are being formed. On the newest dunes "biestarwegras" is found, and on the somewhat older dunes you will find marram grass. In the moist dune valleys Parnassia, Dactylorhiza and Centaurium have sprung.

The "Kreeftenpolder" is a dune valley which was formed because a sandbar was build separating it from the coastal plain. The supervisor of the project, Jaap Kreeft gave the polder its name. In the valley grows the Liparis loeselii and the "armbloemig waterbies". Since the year 2000 a large part of it is flooded. On the other side of the sandbar two small lakes have formed, the "Horsmeertjes"

De Geul

"The Geul" is a wet dune valley, originally it was part of "Mok bay", but a dam was build so that drinking water could be extracted from the dunes. Here the largest colony of Common Spoonbill on Texel breeds. After the extraction of water stopped in 1993 the area became much more wet. through a ditch with fish ladders in it, water can escape to "the Mok", and three-spined stickleback can enter "the Geul" from the Wadden Sea. The presence of these fish made the spoonbills decide to breed here. Both highland cattle and Exmoor ponies graze in the area.

De Bollekamer

"The Bollekamer" is situated between peach poles 9 and 12, north of Den Hoorn. In the eastern part rocky loam is found very near the surface, this surface does not let water through, therefore this area has the highest groundwater level of the entire dune system. The valleys are influenced by the lime rich groundwater. Highland cattle grazes on "the Bollekamer".

De Muy

"The Muy" is named after the dune lake that was formed after the North Sea broke through the outer dunes in 1851. This is the oldest known breeding spot for the spoonbill on Texel. In the (19) nineties the number of them decreased here, while more breeding Great Cormorants came to the area. "De Nederlanden" is also part of "the Muy", in a land improvement project pastures were made. That area is now managed extensively. Among other plants the Green-winged Orchid grows here.

De Slufter

The main part of "the Slufter" is a wide dune valley which has a open connection to the North Sea though a hole in the outer dunes. At high tide seawater streams into "the Slufter" though creeks an at [tide|low tide] it streams out again. The large "Slufterckreek" at the beach, were the water most the times comes through, over time the creek has moved in a northern direction. Because this creek was heavily damaging the dunes on the northern side in May 2004 intervention was needed. A new creek was constructed on the far most southern part of "the Slufter", the old creek was closed up a week later. On a average high tide the seawater only gets into the creeks and small lakes, on a extreme high tide the larger part of "the Slufter" is inundated.

The vegetation consist largely of salt marsh plants. In June the area colors mainly purple because of the the Sea-lavender. In October mainly red because of the Common glasswort. Sea-buckthorn also grows here.

Many birds visit "the Slufter". The Common Eider breeds here, the Spoonbill comes to forage and a variety of waders only enters on high tide.

Many seashells of the present sea fauna, as well as many fossil seashells dating back to the Eemian interglacial wash on to the coastal plain of "the Slufter".

"The Slufter" is separated from the North Sea by two long dune strips, this area is called "De Lange Dam". In between the dune stripes there is a valley with fresh water, many orchids grow here.

Fauna

Texel has a very rich variety of species.

Birds

Many sighted birds on the island are: Brent Goose, Spoonbill, Shelduck, Wigeon, Eider, Scoter, Oystercatcher, Pied Avocet, Golden Plover, Peewit, Knot, Dunlin, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-headed Gull, Starling and the Hen Harrier.

Mammals

The most common mammal is the Common Seal. With some luck you can sight the Stoat, Rabbits, European Hare or even a White-beaked Dolphin.

External links

* [http://www.npduinenvantexel.nl/index.php?id=59 Nationaal Park Duinen van Texel]
* [http://waarneming.nl/gebstats.php?id=4518&werkgroep=O&meta=J&jaar=0&maand=0&diergroep=0&taal=# A complete list of fauna on Texel] ("in Dutch")

References