- Richel
"For the boxer, see
Richel Hersisia "Richel, or rather "De Richel" (Dutch for "the ridge"), is a permanently dry sandbank in the
Wadden Sea , in the gap between the Dutch islands ofVlieland andTerschelling . It is located about 1 kilometer east of the northernmost point of Vlieland and is administered by the municipality of Vlieland. The sandbank has an average surface area of 116 hectares. [ [http://www.vlieland.net/index.php?pagina=vinfo-algemeen&taal=EN VVV Vlieland] ] It is completely flooded only during extremely high tides. [ [http://www.milieudefensie.nl/publicaties/magazine/2000/juni/wadden.htm Milieudefensie] (Dutch)]The island is primarily known as one of the most important resting places in the Wadden Sea for
Gray Seal s. Some 200 individuals can be seen resting on Richel, particularly in the weeks after new pups are born. [ [http://www.zeehondencreche.nl/nieuws2007/12_31_richel_vol_pups_e.htm Zeehondencrèche Lenie 't Hart] ] [ [http://www.kustgids.nl/vlieland/index.html Kustgids.nl] (Dutch)] The sandbank is also important as a breeding and feeding area forRinged Plover s,Kentish Plover s,Little Tern s and other bird species.Richel is uninhabited and virtually barren. It is too low to support any permanent vegetation. [ [http://www.seaonscreen.org/vleet/index-eng.php?item=sea&pageid=vlie-the-richel.htm&use_template=ecomare.html ZeeInZicht: guide to the Wadden Sea, the coast and the North Sea] ] The sandbank is only able to support some temporary colonisation by the grass species
Sand Couch ("Elytrigia juncea").The ferry between
Harlingen and Vlieland passes by Richel, making a detour around the sandbank. During low tide, it is possible to walk to the sandbank from Vlieland (seemudflat hiking ) although Richel is off-limits to humans due to its importance as a nature area. Boat trips from Vlieland are organised daily during the summer tourist season to see the seal population on Richel.References
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