Early Autumn 1976 - FRT


The Age and origin of the North Frisian Islands

It is generally conceded that the Mandrenkelse (the man-drowning-sea of 1362) tore old North Friesland apart, creating a group of islands, much the way we know them today. This, however, can only be accepted in a broad sense. With exact historical evidence lacking, we must gather our information from a variety of sources. One chronicle states that "in 1362, North Friesland was torn away from the mainland by a very high tide and that most people drowned." Rungholt, the harbor town and trade center, from which trade routes led to all parts of old North Friesland and beyond, disappeared completely. These trade routes were destroyed and the area had assumed, to a large extent, an island character, with difficult accessibility from one part to another.

It is erroneous, however, to picture old North Friesland as one solid land-mass. The Earth Book (geography of the world) of King Valdemere II (Denmark) in 1251, has Syld, Ambrum, and Föör listed as islands. A document in the Vatican, dating back to the reign of Pope Innocence III (1198), allows the visiting Bishop (in North Friesland) four extra days for each church, since "it is difficult at times to cross ditches and inlets on horseback."

It might be remembered that the building of churches in North Friesland started approximately in the year 1100. A legend states that four churches, St. Severin, Keitum/Sal, St. Johannes, Njiblem/Feer, St. Salvatore, Pelwärm, and one in Tating/Eiderstedt, were built at the same time. The builder on horseback supervised the construction of all four, the distance between one to another being approximately 25 km.

It is safe to say, that during the first two centuries of this millennium, North Friesland was still one land-mass interspersed with streams and inlets. The gradual formation of islands through widening of these waterways by successive high tides took place at that time. Johannes Meyer, famous cartographer of the 17th century has through meticulous calculations, concluded that from 1050-1652, North Friesland was reduced in size approximately 80 to 85%.
Ironically, the creation of North Friesland is also attributed to the tides (the ordinary tide and not the large destructive tides). This process will be discussed in future issues.