Kirr

Kirr

Aerial photograph of the island of Kirr (foreground) and Zingst (background)
Location of the island of Kirr
Geography
Location	Baltic Sea
Coordinates	54°25′27″N12°42′7″E
Archipelago	Darss-Zingst Bodden Chain
Length	3.5 km (2.17 mi)
Width	1.5 km (0.93 mi)
Highest elevation	1 m (3 ft)
Administration
Germany
Demographics
Population	0

Kirris anislandin theDarss-Zingst Bodden Chainsouth of theZingst Peninsulaon the GermanBaltic Seacoast. It is separated from the peninsula by theZingster Strom.The island is anature reservewithin theWestern Pomerania Lagoon Area National Park.It was formerly and is sometimes still calledGroßer KirrorGroße Kirr( "Great Kirr" ). This is to distinguish it from the northwestern part of the island, which was still a separate albeit much smaller island in the Zingster Strom in the second half of the 20th century, that used to be calledKleiner KirrorKleine Kirr( "Small Kirr" ).

Geography

The island has a length of 3.5 km, a maximum width of 1.5 km and only rises one metre above sea level. It lies in the lagoon ofBarther Boddenon theBaltic Seacoast of north Germany, just a few metres south of the Baltic seaside resort ofZingst.On the east side of the island is the small hamlet ofKlein Kirr;in the north are the ruins of an old farmstead.

Flora and fauna

The island is covered bysalt marshesand dissected bycreeks.It is an ideal breeding ground for numerous birds, especiallywaderslikedunlin,ruff,redshank,black-tailed godwit,oystercatcher,avocetandlapwingas well as theblack-headed gull.In autumn the island acts as a resting place for several thousandcraneover several weeks as they migrate south. As a consequence of its natural importance, walking on the island or landing boats there without permission is forbidden.

History

Around 1700, the Kirr had three owners, theAmtof Barth (331.6 hectares), the town of Barth (219 hectares) and the Horn family from Divitz (20 hectares). The island was managed by a farmstead and was mainly used by several tenants who grazed cattle and raised crops. They were also allowed to fish around the island. Today the Kirr is still used forcattle pasture.In order to get the cows to their grazing fields there is a cattle ferry to the island from the village ofMüggenburg.

• 
  Klein Kirr on the island of Kirr
• 
  Cow ferry to the island of Kirr

External links

• Website of the national park