Neuwerk

Neuwerk

Neuwerk
Neuwerk Neuwerk (Germany)
Geography
Location	North Sea, Elbe mouth
Area	3 km2 (1.2 sq mi)
Country
Germany
State	Hamburg
Borough	Hamburg-Mitte
Demographics
Population	39 (as of (2007-12-31))
Density	13 /km2 (34 /sq mi)

Neuwerk (3 km², 39 inhabitants) is a Wadden Sea island on the German North Sea coast and a homonymous quarter of the city of Hamburg, Germany, in the borough Hamburg-Mitte. It is located northwest of Cuxhaven, between the Weser and Elbe estuaries, the distance to Hamburg's center is about 120 km.

During low tide the island can be reached on foot or by horse carriages from Cuxhaven, at other times by ship.

The smaller islands Scharhörn and Nigehörn close to Neuwerk are bird sanctuaries, closed to the public. All three islands and the Wadden Sea around them form the Hamburg Wadden Sea National Park.

History

Neuwerk lighthouse of 1369.

In this aerial picture of the Hamburg Wadden Sea National Park, the island Neuwerk is just above the center. Below it, Scharhörn and Nigehörn appear as a single island.

The oldest existing document that mentions Neuwerk is a Frisian contract of 1316, where its old name Nige O is used.

Since the Elbe river was vital to the Hanseatic League's member Hamburg, in 1299 a 35 meter tower was built as lighthouse and protection against pirates. The lighthouse existing today was built between 1367 and 1369 after a fire destroyed the earlier one. It is Hamburg's oldest existing building as well as Hamburg's last fortification.

Due to the Greater Hamburg Law Neuwerk became part of Prussia in 1937, and thus after World War II it was given to the new state of Lower Saxony. In 1969 Hamburg waived older rights on harbour estate in Cuxhaven in favour of Neuwerk and Scharhörn.^[1]

In the early 20th century, tourism became important for Neuwerk.

Demographics

On 31 December 2007, Neuwerk quarter had 39 inhabitants, 26 female and 13 males. 11 were resident aliens.^[2]

Notes

1. ^ Law about the agreement with the state Lower Saxony ... [1] (in German)
2. ^ (in German) Statistische Berichte A I 1 - j/07 H, Statistisches Amt für Hamburg und Schleswig-Holstein, 2008-09-11, http://www.statistik-nord.de/uploads/tx_standocuments/A_I_1_j07_H.pdf, retrieved 2009-10-31 

External links

Media related to Neuwerk at Wikimedia Commons

Coordinates: 53°55′N 8°30′E / 53.917°N 8.5°E / 53.917; 8.5