54°54′N 8°20′E / 54.900°N 8.333°E
Native name: Söl, Sild | |
|---|---|
 September 2013 aerial photograph of Sylt | |
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| Geography | |
| Location | Wadden Sea |
| Coordinates | 54°54′N 8°20′E / 54.900°N 8.333°E |
| Archipelago | North Frisian Islands |
| Major islands | Sylt, Föhr, Amrum |
| Area | 99 km2 (38 sq mi) |
| Length | 38 km (23.6 mi) |
| Width | 13 km (8.1 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 52 m (171 ft) |
| Highest point | Uwe-Düne |
| Administration | |
Germany | |
| State | Schleswig-Holstein |
| District | Nordfriesland |
| Demographics | |
| Demonym | Sylters |
| Population | 21,000 |
| Pop. density | 212/km2 (549/sq mi) |
| Ethnic groups | Germans, Frisians, Danes |
| Additional information | |
| Official website | www |
Sylt (German pronunciation: [ˈzʏlt] ; Danish: Sild; Söl'ring North Frisian: Söl) is an island in northern Germany, part of Nordfriesland district, Schleswig-Holstein, well known for the distinctive shape of its shoreline. It belongs to the North Frisian Islands and is the largest island in North Frisia. The northernmost island of Germany, it is known for its tourist resorts, notably Westerland, Kampen and Wenningstedt-Braderup, as well as for its 40-kilometre-long (25-mile) sandy beach. It is frequently covered by the media in connection with its exposed situation in the North Sea and its ongoing loss of land during storm tides. Since 1927, Sylt has been connected to the mainland by the Hindenburgdamm causeway. In later years, it has been a resort for the German jet set and tourists in search of occasional celebrity sightings.[citation needed]