Marker Wadden, The Netherlands

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The Marker Wadden is an artificial archipelago under development in the Markermeer, a lake in the Netherlands. The first island was inaugurated on 24 September 2016. The islands have already been colonized by large numbers of breeding birds. A colony of 200 breeding pairs of Pied avocet has made the islands their home, as has a large colony of Common tern. Little terns also breed on the islands. Northern shoveler, Gadwall, Garganey, Mediterranean gull, Spoonbill, and numerous other species of birds have been seen on and around the islands. Natuurmonumenten (Dutch Society for Nature Conservation) is restoring one of the largest freshwater lakes in western Europe by constructing islands, marshes and mud flats from the sediments that have accumulated in the lake in recent decades. These 'Marker Wadden' will form a unique ecosystem that will boost biodiversity in the Netherlands.

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Size: 5325px × 3716px
Location: Marker Wadden, The Netherlands
Photo credit: © Wiskerke / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: archipelago, artificial, bird, birdwatching, conservation, dutch, hide, ijsselmeer, islands, lake, marker, markermeer, nature, natuurmonumenten, netherlands, society, vereniging, wadden, watching, zuiderzee