Bodden are brackish bodies of water similar to estuaries, occurring along the southern shores of the Baltic Sea and having a distinctive geological origin.
During the Littorina Sea transgression an island archipelago was formed by the carving of narrow glacial basins and channels resulting from meltwater. Bodden were formed in a comparatively short period between spits and offshore sandbars. These shallow glacial scoops were then subjected to extensive sedimentation during the Holocene, resulting in lakes with depths of no more than 4-6 metres. Thermal and saline stratification is extremely unstable under these conditions, and bodden have the typical dynamics of small bodies of water with a sea connection, which is a rapid filling and draining due to tidal and wind action, and inflow of fresh water. The frequent movement of water can lead to a scouring effect, but can also with heavy pollution show a tendency toward eutrophication.[1]
Important bodden on the southern Baltic Sea in Western Pomerania between Rostock and the island of Usedom:
- Darß-Zingster Bodden chain (Saale, Bodstedter, Barthes, Koppelstrom and Grabow)
- West Rügen Bodden chain (Kubitz, Schaprode, Vitte)
- North Rügen Bodden (Wiek, Breetzer, Breege, Lebbin, Jasmund)
- Stralsund
- Greifswald Bodden (Rügischem, Hagenscher Wiek)
- Peenestrom
Bodden occur typically on coastal Western Pomerania, on the Mecklenburg as well as in Denmark. The bodden are important sanctuaries for many species of birds and are especially important resting places for migratory birds like cranes and geese. This was the reason for the establishment of the Vorpommern Lagoon Area National Park between the Darß and the island of Rügen.
Traditionally bodden have been good fishing areas, rich in mesolithic community sites, in particular the Pomeranian bodden of Rügen, Greifswald and Peenestrom. From these waters anglers regularly haul 10–15 kg Northern pike.[2]
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 by Paul Müller-Kaempff |
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References
Bibliography
- Harvesting the Sea, Farming the Forest by Marek Zvelebil, Lucyna Domańska, Robin Dennell
External links
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