Schlei

For the Amt seeSchlei (Amt).

Schlei in the village of Holm,Schleswig

Bilingual map of the Schlei (German and Danish placenames)

Schlei nature park

TheSchlei(German:[ʃlaɪ];Danish:SlienorSlesvig Fjord) is a narrowinletof theBaltic SeainSchleswig-Holsteinin northernGermany.It stretches for approximately 20 miles (32 kilometers) from the Baltic nearKappelnandArnisto thecity of Schleswig.Along the Schlei are many small bays and swamps. It separates theAngelnpeninsula to the north from theSchwansenpeninsula to the south.

The importantVikingsettlement ofHedebywas located at the head of thefirth(fjord), but was later abandoned in favor of the city of Schleswig. A museum has been built on the site, telling the story of the abandoned town.

Etymology

The Schlei's name was once presumablyAngel,later giving its name to the regionAngeln.This name derives from theNorsewordangr( "narrow" ).Angeltherefore meant "narrow fjord", which fits the long and narrow Schlei well.

The current name is thought to have been used only for the inner Schlei (the rivers now known in Danish as theStore BredningandLille Bredningand in German as theGroße BreiteandKleine Breite,near the city of Schleswig). The word is thought to be connected with the Danish wordslæ( "reeds, water plants" ).