Schleswig Geest
The Schleswigsche Geest (in Danish Midtslesvig , Midtsletten or Slesvigsk Gest ) describes a region in the north of Schleswig-Holstein . It extends between the marshes of North Friesland and the hill country of Angelns and Schwansen . In some cases there are also transition areas such as Luus fishing . The Schleswig Geest is geologically characterized by a higher sand content in the soil. Accordingly, the soils are less fertile than those of the adjacent marshland or hill country. The Geest is therefore comparatively sparsely populated. The Schleswigsche Geest is one of several Schleswig-Holstein geest areas .
The Schleswigsche Geest historically includes the Arens- , Karr- , Uggel- and Wiesharde as well as parts of the Goesharden . At no time did the Geest represent an administrative unit, nor was there a possible political or economic center. Larger places are Leck , Jübek and Eggebek . Administratively, the Schleswigsche Geest extends today over the districts of North Friesland , Schleswig-Flensburg and partly Rendsburg-Eckernförde .
The Geest was settled by Danes and Jutes from the 6th century . Frisians also settled in parts of the Goesharden after 1100. With the Geest colonization by King and Duke Friedrich V , South German settlers were also settled on the Geest in the 18th century. Linguistically, Sønderjysk was still widespread in the form of Middle Schleswig until the 19th century . Some people spoke in the Viöl Fjoldemål area until the 20th century . At the transition to North Friesland partially still is Frisian for example in the form of Karrharde Frisian widespread. Today, High and Low German are particularly common, the latter in the form of Schleswig . Sønderjysk is sometimes still spoken near the border. Among the Danish minority, Sydslesvigdansk, a form of standard Danish influenced by the northern German colloquial language, has developed.
With the Ochsenweg , one of the most important traffic routes in Northern Europe ran through the Geest. In the Viking Age there was probably also an international trade route between the Schlei and the Treene .