Denmark's largest shallow brackish lagoon and a key haven for migratory waterbirds.
Ringkøbing Fjord og Nymindestrømmen
Ringkøbing Fjord og Nymindestrømmen is one of Denmark's most significant coastal protected landscapes, recognised simultaneously as a Natura 2000 habitat area, a bird protection area, and a Ramsar wetland of international importance. Centred on the broad, shallow brackish lagoon of Ringkøbing Fjord on the central-western coast of Jutland, the protected zone extends across roughly 27,600 hectares, combining open water, salt meadows, dunes, freshwater lakes, river delta, and small islands.
The area is shaped by the long interaction between the fjord, the Skjern Å river system, and the shifting dune landscapes of the Danish west coast. The reed-covered island of Klægbanken, the peninsula of Tipperne with its meadows and shallow lagoons, and the ancient former outflow channel at Nymindestrømmen together create a mosaic of brackish, freshwater, and coastal habitats unusually rich for such a compact region.
The site is particularly important for waterbirds, supporting breeding species such as spoonbill, bittern, marsh harrier, and avocet, as well as major populations of migratory swans, geese, ducks, and waders. It stands out as a defining example of Denmark's west coast wetland heritage and the country's long tradition of protecting lowland fjord ecosystems.
