Land under
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/Capella_storm_surge_Hilligenley_Langene%C3%9F_1976.jpg/220px-Capella_storm_surge_Hilligenley_Langene%C3%9F_1976.jpg)
With land under (also: country under ) usually is in the German language flooding of the grassland of the islets off the North Frisian North Sea coast referred that the level of the mean high tide is only about half a meter higher than; only the mounds of earth ( terps ) raised to protect houses, people and cattle are generally spared. In addition, the term also refers to the flooding of low-lying parts of the mainland coast.
The event occurs about five to twenty times a year when a spring tide and onshore winds meet ( storm surge ). Due to the rise in sea levels since 1850 , its frequency has increased significantly.
Because of the regular salinization of the pastures and wells, mainly cattle and sheep are kept on the Halligen; in addition, the inhabited islands were connected to the mainland's public water supply from the 1960s.
In addition to its specific meaning, “Land unter” is used colloquially in a figurative sense for a situation in which a person is overwhelmed with their duties or problems.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b country. Duden , accessed on April 9, 2019 .
- ↑ Max Rauner : The calm before the storm. Die Zeit , August 5, 2009, accessed on April 9, 2019 .
- ↑ a b country below. reverso.net, accessed April 9, 2019 .
- ↑ Landunter. halligen.de, accessed on April 9, 2019 .
- ↑ Helge Tuschy: The Halligen - the storm "Sebastian" and the preparations (part 2). DWD , September 27, 2017, accessed on April 9, 2019 .
- ↑ Unique habitat in the Wadden Sea. nordfriesische-halligen.de, accessed on April 9, 2019 .