German beach town warns tourists of dangerous lack of sand
There is a lack of sand on one of the beaches in Germany. This poses a danger for tourists, as indicated by a warning sign recently appearing in the Westerland resort district. The seemingly absurd message from local authorities is fully justified.
2:22 PM EDT, July 17, 2024
A bizarre announcement has appeared on the beach in the Westerland district (Sylt municipality in Germany). Officials have informed that "due to the lack of sand, this part of the beach is unguarded." They are asking tourists to exercise particular caution.
How is it possible that there is not enough sand on a beach on the North Sea? "Bild" asked local officials from Germany to explain this issue. It turns out they have a valid justification.
The last winter season brought frequent and prolonged storms that led to the loss of sand, said Gritje Stöver, spokeswoman for the Sylt Island Tourist Service, in an interview with a "Bild" journalist.
Swimming ban on a German beach?
It turns out that the "loss of sand" has not only a practical dimension, making it difficult to use the beach. The lack of a sandy substrate also makes safe swimming impossible. For this reason, Westerland authorities have decided to post a warning.
Currently, there is a zone on the central beach that is too deep for safe swimming. This is particularly problematic with western winds and high tides. The sea quickly approaches the sea wall, says Gritje Stöver.
It turns out that the information is purely a warning. Local officials and tourist organizations have not decided to impose a swimming ban on tourists. They rely on their common sense.
