Richel

For the boxer, see Richel Hersisia.

Richel

Location of Richel in the Wadden Sea

Geography
Coordinates| 53°17′50″N 5°8′05″E﻿ / ﻿53.29722°N 5.13472°E﻿ / 53.29722; 5.13472
Archipelago| (West) Frisian Islands
Adjacent to| Wadden Sea
Administration

Netherlands

Province| Friesland
Municipality| Vlieland
Demographics
Population| Uninhabited

Richel (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈrɪxəl] ⓘ; English: Ridge), or rather De Richel (The Ridge), is a permanently dry sandbank in the Wadden Sea, in the gap between the Dutch islands of Vlieland and Terschelling. 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.[1] It is completely flooded only during extremely high tides.[2]

The island is primarily known as the most important breeding place in the Wadden Sea for grey seals.[3] More than 300 pups are born on Richel in winter. In summer seals seem to prefer areas more sheltered from human contact. The sandbank is also important as a breeding and feeding area for ringed plovers, Kentish plovers, little terns and other bird species.

Richel is uninhabited and virtually barren. It is too low to support any permanent vegetation.[4] 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 (see mudflat hiking) although Richel is off-limits to humans due to its importance as a nature area. Boat trips from Vlieland used to be organised daily during the summer tourist season to observe the seal population on Richel.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Cijfers en Feiten", Gemeente Vlieland (Dutch, archived)
2. ^ Milieudefensie (Dutch)
3. ^ "We-at-sea.org – Wat wil jij weten over windkracht en windenergie?". www.we-at-sea.org. Retrieved 2025-02-22.
4. ^ ZeeInZicht: guide to the Wadden Sea, the coast and the North Sea Archived 2011-07-28 at the Wayback Machine

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Richel at Wikimedia Commons

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Frisian Islands

West Frisian Islands
(Netherlands)|

* Noorderhaaks
* Texel
* Vlieland
* Richel
* Terschelling
* Griend
* Ameland
* Rif
* Engelsmanplaat
* Schiermonnikoog
* Simonszand
* Rottumerplaat
* Rottumeroog
* Zuiderduintjes

Former islands|

* Eierland
* Wieringen
* Monnikenlangenoog
* Bosch

East Frisian Islands
(Germany)|

* Borkum
* Lütje Hörn
* Kachelotplate
* Memmert
* Juist
* Norderney
* Baltrum
* Langeoog
* Spiekeroog
* Wangerooge
* Minsener-Oldoog
* Mellum

Former islands|

* Buise

Heligoland Bight
(Germany)|

* Langlütjen I & II
* Großer Knechtsand
* Heligoland
* Düne
* Neuwerk
* Scharhörn
* Nigehörn
* Trischen
* Tertius
* Blauort

North Frisian Islands
(Germany)|

* Barrier Island
* Pellworm
* Amrum
* Föhr
* Sylt
* Uthörn

Halligen|

* Gröde
* Habel
* Hamburger Hallig
* Hooge
* Langeneß
* Norderoog
* Nordstrandischmoor
* Oland
* Süderoog
* Südfall

Former islands|

* Hainshallig
* Nordstrand
* Strand

Danish Wadden Sea Islands
(Denmark)|

* Rømø
* Koresand
* Fanø

Halligen|

* Langli
* Mandø

Former islands|

* Jordsand

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