Through the Window

by Inge Riis McDonald

Title

Through the Window

Artist

Inge Riis McDonald

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

Looking through on of the "windows" in the large tower on Christiansoe.

Christiansoe is a unique place. It is a small archipelago (Ertholmene) situated about 18 km NE of the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea. You can not find such a special group of islands anywhere else in Denmark. The old fortress of King Christian V has not changed since its foundation in 1684. The islands have their own circadian rhythm and the rugged nature of the unique landscape offers an unrivaled experience, giving you a sense of the special atmosphere and peace.

Ertholmene consist of 2 inhabited islands: Christiansoe and Frederiksoe (which are connected by a suspension bridge), the bird sanctuary Graesholmen and a good deal of skerries - including the easternmost point of Denmark, Oesterskaer.

Fishermen from Bornholm have used the islands for shelter since the middle ages. The first permanent inhabitants arrived following wars with Sweding in the 17th century. Denmark needed a military base in the Baltic sea and built a fort on the islands of Christiansoe and Frederiksoe. This fort served as an outpost for the Danish Navy until 1855. Many of the historical buildings now are home to the local people and to tourists in the summer.

Ertholmene are owned by the Danish Ministry of Defence and the houses, which can only be hired, are domicile for the about 100 residents. Every year, about 40,000 guests visit the islands, so no wonder that the inhabitants are looking forward to the departure of Christiansoefarten's boat with the one-day visitors!

On Christiansoe there are no cars or roads and only one single mammal, the hedgehog, lives there. However, you can find nesting eider ducks everywhere, which prefer these quiet islands as breeding place. On the bird sanctuary Graesholmen more than 10.000 couples of herring gulls are brooding and the birds razorbill and guillemot breed here as the only place in Denmark. In spring and autumn millions of little birds fly over the Baltic to and from the breeding areas in the north and large numbers of migratory birds look for food and rest on Christiansoe before their next departure.

Source: Destination Bornholm

Uploaded

May 30th, 2013

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