Peberholm
![]() View of Peberholm and the Øresund Bridge (from the north west) | |
![]() Location of Peberholm, in the Øresund | |
Geography | |
---|---|
Location | Øresund,Baltic Sea |
Coordinates | 55°36′N12°45′E/ 55.600°N 12.750°E |
Area | 1.3 km2(0.50 sq mi) |
Highest point | unnamed |
Administration | |
Denmark | |
Region | Hovedstaden |
Municipality | Tårnby |
Demographics | |
Population | 0 (2020) |
Pop. density | 0/km2(0/sq mi) |
Ethnic groups | none |
[1] |
Peberholm(Danish pronunciation:[ˈpʰe̝wɐˌhʌlˀm]lit. 'Pepper Islet',Swedish:Pepparholm(Swedish pronunciation:[ˈpɛ̂pːarˌhɔlm])) is a smallartificial islandin the Danish part of theØresundstrait, created as part of theØresund BridgeconnectingDenmarkwithSweden.Peberholm lies approximately 1 km south of the larger natural island ofSaltholm(Salt Islet) and was named to complement it. It has an area of 1.3 km2(320 acres) and belongs to Denmark.
Reasons for construction
[edit]The reason for constructing the island was to have a crossover point between the tunnel and the bridge.
The tunnel was built since a bridge spanning the entire link between Malmö and Copenhagen would have interfered with obstacle-free zones aroundKastrup Airport.Another reason was to enable large ships to pass the Öresund without worrying about the height of the bridge. Making the Øresund Bridge higher would have interfered with the freight train traffic because a steeper gradient would be needed.
The border between Swedish and Danishrailway signallingandrailway traffic controlis on Peberholm.
There is an exit from the motorway on the island, banned from unauthorised traffic, and ahelicopter padmainly planned for usage at traffic accidents (55°36′03″N12°45′05″E/ 55.60083°N 12.75139°E).
Built to preserve ecology
[edit]The original designs for a bridge across the Øresund required extensive use of Saltholm as a stepping-stone for the bridge. They required either the construction of both a motorway and railway across Saltholm or an expansion of the existing island to serve the same purpose.
Both of these options were ultimately abandoned in order to protect the island'secology;Danish and Swedish politicians decided instead to construct an artificial island immediately south of Saltholm to achieve that goal. The location was chosen in the belief that it would ensure the freest flow of water through the strait, a key element in the debate about whether or not the bridge should be constructed.
Peberholm is protected by strict laws. Only biologists are allowed one annual visit to the areas of the island outside of the railroad and highway to which the island owes its creation. The island is part ofNatura 2000area 142, comprising Saltholm and surrounding waters with a total area of 7,218 ha (17,840 acres). The same area is also under two birdprotections as habitats H110 and H126.[2]The laws did not prevent it from being used as a border control station during the2020 coronavirus pandemic.[3]
Development
[edit]Peberholm is considered to be a biological experiment. Scientists predicted that nature would colonise it and make the island flourish on its own, without any human interaction whatsoever. As of June 2007, scientists from the Biological Society of Lund had registered 454 species of plants on the island.[4]Also resident to the island as of 2005[update]were about 20 species of spiders, and approximately 12 species of birds.[5]
Since 2008, both the quantity of birds and the number of bird species have seen an increase, and now between 20 and 30 species breed on Peberholm regularly. The island is largely inhabited by several kinds of breeding gulls, and some locally threatened species have also found a home here as breeders, including theMediterranean gullandEuropean rock pipitin some years. Manygeese,ducks,great cormorants,andwadersrest on the small island and theWhite-tailed eagleis often observed here in winter. TheEuropean green toad,which is rare and protected in Denmark,[6]was found living in several ditches. In 2007–08 a count found c. 2,500 individuals, which is among the largest populations in Scandinavia. It is assumed that toads from Saltholm have swum across. Three species of mice have also populated Peberholm, from very early on, and since 2010,hareshave crossed the ice from Saltholm, as well and are now breeding on Peberholm. It is important to keep these populations under surveillance, as mice in particular are known to be potentially dangerous to the rails stability.[7]From 2015, whiterabbitstoo have been seen. They are assumed to have been released from someone's car.[8]
In the years 2004–08 surveys focused on insects registered a total of 345 beetle species, 421 species of butterflies, and 18 species of bees. This is considered a relatively low diversity compared to similar habitats of Denmark and Sweden. Still, some of the species found on the island are rare or threatened in the region. The population of butterflies seems peculiarly skewed towards regionally uncommon or rare species, includingEpiblema grandaevana(a species of moth), andBath White(Pontia daplidice). In 2005 theHobo spiderwas discovered here, a spider that is only regionally known from a certain spot inJutland.It is thought that it migrated here by trains from abroad. In 2006, theweevilspeciesCeutorhynchus resedaewas also discovered, a unique find inDenmark.[7]
References
[edit]- ^Örneberg, Bengt; Snogerup, Sven; Snogerup, Britt; Segerbäck, Lennart; Runeson, Leif; Porenius, Alf (2012)."The flora on the artificial island Peberholm – a field study in plant succession".Nordic Journal of Botany.145(1). Wiley-Blackwell: 1–32.ISSN0107-055X.Archivedfrom the original on 2024-05-31.Retrieved2024-05-31.
- ^"142 Saltholm and surrounding sea"
- ^"Här testar SVT:s reportrar de danska gränskontrollerna"[Here, SVT's reporters test the Danish border controls] (in Swedish).SVT.2020-03-14.Retrieved2020-03-16.
- ^Nye plante- og fuglearter på Peberholm2770 Tårnby,week 25, 2007.(in Danish)
- ^"Birdlife on Peberholm - Recurvirostra avosetta - Avocet, Skürflücka, Klyde".birds-of-denmark.dk.Retrieved21 January2012.
- ^"European green toad"(in Danish). The Danish Nature Agency. Archived fromthe originalon 19 July 2015.Retrieved2 January2016.
- ^ab"Peberholm – an artificial gem of nature"
- ^"Nya arter hittar till Pepparholm"(in Swedish). 14 June 2016.
Sources
[edit]- "Oresund Bridge".Road Traffic Technology.Retrieved2 January2016.
- Ohrt, Hans (February 2011)."Peberholm – an artificial gem of nature"(PDF).Vand og Jord(in Danish). No. 1. pp. 26–31. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 6 August 2020.Retrieved2 January2016.
- "Life on Peberholm".Øresundsbron.Retrieved2 January2016.
- "142 Saltholm and surrounding sea"(in Danish). Danish Nature Agency. Archived fromthe originalon 4 March 2016.Retrieved2 January2016.
External links
[edit]Media related toPeberholmat Wikimedia Commons