Marstal

History

Marstal is a shipping town founded in the 16th century. During the 17th and 18th centuries its living depended predominantly on the building and sailing of wooden ships. In the harbour is a small island Frederiksøen, which today is called the Lime Kiln (Kalkovnen). The impressive fieldstone pier at the island was built in 1825 by local seamen on a voluntary basis. The island was in use as a repair yard for ships, until in 1863 it was rented out for lime burning. The town did not grow around a square or a church, its houses were simply erected along the paths leading upwards from the jetties. As the town grew transverse ring-roads were added, and the narrowness of the settlement often meant that the houses were placed somewhat coincidentally. The First World War put an end to optimism and changed the glorious maritime traditions of Marstal. 42 ships from Marstal were sunk at the loss of 53 seamen. The Second World War deprived the small naval community of 80 of its young boys and seamen.

Most-observed species

• Graylag Goose

  Anser anser (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  4,133
• Eurasian Marsh-Harrier

  Circus aeruginosus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  3,966
• Northern Lapwing

  Vanellus vanellus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  3,925
• Barnacle Goose

  Branta leucopsis (Bechstein, 1803) · Aves
  3,634
• White-tailed Eagle

  Haliaeetus albicilla (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  3,548
• Mute Swan

  Cygnus olor (J.F.Gmelin, 1789) · Aves
  3,313
• Great Egret

  Ardea alba Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  3,225
• Gray/Purple Heron

  Ardea cinerea Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  3,097

Most recent

• M 2.5 — 2003-06-15
  15 km SE of Nyborg, Denmark