Grenen; Where Two Seas Meet
… and why that makes it an interesting place to visit
Grenen is the northernmost point in Denmark. But there is something even more special about it; two seas collide, their waves crashing into each other. The spectacle brings about some interesting questions. Do the waters mix? What wildlife is common in the area?
Grenen
Literally translated to ´The Branch´, Grenen is called that way because of its appearance; a long branch-like sandbar reaching towards Sweden. At its end, you can witness of the junction of two seas, namely the Baltic and the North Sea. Their waters touch, but do not mix, because of differences in density, temperature and salinity. The sand reef is still active, growing about 10 metres northeast each year. Swimming is prohibited around Grenen due to strong currents.
The area around Grenen is beautiful, and you can walk all the way to the tip to get your picture taken. You will have to wait in line, though; The Branch is estimated to attract around 2 million people each year. And don´t forget that you have to be lucky for the weather to be sunny and a bit windy, otherwise you might not be able to detect the collision at all.
Wildlife
The uncommon phenomenon of two seas meeting attracts not only people, but also fascinating wildlife.
Many sea mammals like porpoises and common and grey seals can be observed. Most often reported are dolphins, whales and orcas, but even the walrus has been spotted! Besides, Grenen has the most observed bird species in all of Denmark. When I visited, I saw some gannets hovering above the separation line. Afterwards I wrote an email to the bird centre of Skagen, the artistic and cute fishing village close by, asking if it was right the area appealed to those animals. They answered by confirming gannets are common around Grenen and said the collision presumably makes for a good fishing spot.
Grenen is viewed by many scientists as an interesting experiment on land formation and pioneering flora. Dunes are starting to form and moving from the seas inwards, you will slowly see more vegetation appearing.
I personally loved witnessing the collision of these two seas at Grenen, and highly recommend to observe it yourself! Do you know more spots in the world where this cool phenomenon occurs? Let me know in the comments!
More from me:
Story of a Passionate Biologist — Why am I on Medium?
5 Reasons Why Taking The Same Walk Never Ceases to Surprise
What I love about Terschelling — Exploring The Beauty of a Dutch Island
18 Things To Do When You´re Bored
Stay updated for posts about moving dunes and flight formations of birds!
Thanks for reading! I hope you like my post. I am Mo Schouten, a Biology student located in the Netherlands. Capturing my environment with a camera is what I love most. — — Comments as well as tips are always welcome; leave them below!