Sunbeams over dry mudflat of the Wadden sea
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Sunbeams over dry mudflat of the Wadden sea

by Bastiaan van Diedenhoven, Columbia University, NEW YORK, USA

The Wadden sea is an unique intertidal zone on the North coasts of the Netherlands and Germany. The area is incredibly rich in biological diversity. Especially many species of birds call it their home. In 2009, the Wadden Sea was placed on UNESCO's World Heritage List. During low tide it is possible to walk over the dry mudflats. The daring can hike all the way to the Wadden islands, which are about 20 kilometers from the mainland. During a mudflat hike on 5 August 2009, I took this photo showing spectacular sunbeams shining through the clouds over the dry mudflat of the Dutch Wadden. More information about the Wadden sea at http://www.waddensea-worldheritage.org/.