Gedser Odde

{{Short description|Denmark's southernmost point}} [[File:Gedser Odde1.JPG|thumb|Cliffs at Gedser Odde, Falster]]

'''Gedser Odde''' on the island of [[Falster]] in the [[Baltic Sea]] is [[Denmark]]'s southernmost point.<ref name="Rying1981">{{cite book|last=Rying|first=Bent|title=Denmark: introduction, prehistory|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rQZpAAAAMAAJ|access-date=22 November 2012|year=1981|publisher=The Royal Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs|page=6}}</ref><ref name="HardingElliott2007">{{cite book|last1=Harding|first1=Paul|last2=Elliott|first2=Mark|title=Scandinavian Europe 8th Edition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=msR6s6ZCNRIC&pg=PA67|access-date=22 November 2012|date=1 February 2007|publisher=Lonely Planet|isbn=978-1-74104-553-6|pages=67–}}</ref> The [[terminal moraine]] from [[Idestrup]] through [[Skelby]] to [[Gedser]] is part of the maximum glaciation line across Falster, from [[Orehoved]] to Gedser. Fronted by low cliffs,<ref name="Sailing2005" /> the ridge, {{convert|5|–|7|m|abbr=on}} high, continues underwater a further {{convert|18|km|abbr=on}} south-east to Gedser Rev.<ref>[http://www.denstoredanske.dk/Danmarks_geografi_og_historie/Danmarks_geografi/Falster/Gedser_Odde "Gedser Odde"], ''Den Store Danske''. {{in lang|da}} Retrieved 21 November 2012.</ref> Sydstenen (the south stone) marks the southernmost point.<ref>[http://www.denstoredanske.dk/Danmarks_geografi_og_historie/Danmarks_geografi/Falster/Sydstenen "Sydstenen"], ''Den Store Danske''. {{in lang|da}} Retrieved 21 November 2012.</ref>

==Geology== The coastal cliff at Gedser Odder is almost always exposed. The [[strata]] deposited during the [[Last glacial period|last ice age]] can be clearly seen, but lake sediments have also been exposed, from the lowering of the terrain. The sediments from the postglacial period contain fossils of [[freshwater snail]]s and [[mussel]]s, evidence of a freshwater episode in the Baltic. The ice age strata consist mostly of [[moraine]]s of clay and boulders deposited by the melting glacier. Traces of pink in the moraines come from red sandstone plucked up in the [[Baltic Sea]].<ref>[http://www.museum-online.dk/geologi/lokalitet_data.asp?ID=12 "Gedser Odde"] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130212185706/http://www.museum-online.dk/geologi/lokalitet_data.asp?ID=12 |date=2013-02-12 }}, Geologiske lokaliteter. {{in lang|da}} Retrieved 21 November 2012.</ref>

==Birds== Gedser Odde is a good site for observing [[Bird migration|migratory birds]], especially on windy days. [[Common eider]]s can be seen in large numbers around the point in the spring (from the end of March to the beginning of April) and autumn. It is not uncommon for as many as 40,000 per day to fly past. The [[common scoter]] is viewable throughout the year in flocks of as many as 3,000. In the autumn, migratory [[goose|geese]] can be seen in their thousands. Other species crossing the area include the [[red-throated loon]], [[pomarine skua]], the [[long-tailed jaeger]], and [[great skua]]. Gedser Odde is probably the area with the most [[little gull]]s in both the spring and the autumn with up to a thousand per day.<ref name=Nof>[https://archive.today/20130106062844/http://www.dof.dk/sider/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=542&Itemid=607 "Gedser Odde"], Natur og fugle. {{in lang|da}} Retrieved 21 November 2012.</ref>

Among the [[birds of prey]] which frequent the area in fairly large numbers between the southernmost point and the Gedser Marina are the [[rough-legged buzzard]], [[red kite]] (often flying low), the [[western marsh harrier]] and [[common buzzard]]. Smaller birds also occur, including the [[western yellow wagtail]], [[meadow pipit]], [[common chaffinch]] and [[brambling]]. Much less common species have on occasion also been observed in the area, such as [[little egret]], [[black stork]], [[Steller's eider]], [[short-toed snake eagle]], [[Blyth's reed warbler]], [[great reed warbler]], [[eastern olivaceous warbler]], [[barred warbler]], [[brown warbler]] and [[rock bunting]].<ref name=Nof/>

==Features== Gedser Fyr, a square, {{convert|20|m|ft|adj=mid|-high}} lighthouse, sits {{convert|0.7|km|yard|abbr=on}} north-west of Gedser Odde point. The tower features a light and a [[racon]], or radar transponder, and can be ascended.<ref name="Klüche1995">{{cite book|last=Klüche|first=Hans|title=Denmark|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kvS8owQzf94C|access-date=22 November 2012|date=1 May 1995|publisher=APA Publications (HK)|isbn=978-0-395-73423-0|page=67}}</ref> Extending for about {{convert|16|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} north from Gedser Odde, Falster's east coast is protected by a [[Levee|dyke]]. Submarine cables extending north-east, south-east, and south-south-east lie off Gedser Odde.<ref name="Sailing2005">{{cite book|author=National Geospatial Intelligence Agency|title=Sailing Directions, Baltic Sea|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T7-G4MRcvjwC&pg=PA101|access-date=22 November 2012|edition=11th|series=Pub. 194|date=23 April 2005|publisher=ProStar Publications|isbn=978-1-57785-759-4|pages=101, 102, 116–}}</ref>

==See also== * [[Lightvessel Gedser Rev]] * List of countries by southernmost point

==References== {{Reflist}} {{Commons category|Gedser Odde}} {{Falster Denmark}}

[[Category:Geology of Falster]] [[Category:Birdwatching sites in Denmark]]