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Bodden (German pronunciation:[ˈbɔdn̩]ⓘ) arebriny bodies ofwater often forminglagoons, along the southwestern shores of theBaltic Sea, primarily inGermany's state ofMecklenburg-Vorpommern. These lagoons can be found especially around the island ofRügen,Usedom and theFischland-Darss-Zingst peninsula. Some of them are protected reserves, forming theWestern Pomerania Lagoon Area National Park.
They have a distinctive geological origin and are enclosed by peninsulae,spits and islands, leaving only narrow connections to adjacent bodden or the open sea. Freshwater inflow from the mainland and saltwater inflow from the open sea, which depends on wind direction and force as well as the proximity of the bodden to the sea, result in fluctuating salt gradients and distinctive ecosystems.
During theLittorina Sea transgression, an islandarchipelago was formed by the carving of narrow glacial basins and channels resulting frommeltwater. Bodden were formed in a comparatively short period between spits and offshore sandbars. These shallow glacial scoops were then subjected to extensive sedimentation during theHolocene, resulting in lakes with depths of no more than 4–6 metres. Thermal and saline stratification is extremely unstable under these conditions, and bodden have the typical dynamics of small bodies of water with a sea connection, which is a rapid filling and draining due to tidal and wind action, and inflow of fresh water. The frequent movement of water can lead to a scouring effect, but can also with heavy pollution show a tendency towardeutrophication.[1] Due to erosion of cliffs and sedimentary deposition, the shape of the bodden coasts remains unstable. Sudden changes have been caused by stormfloods, which repeatedly closed connections to the sea or opened new ones in the past.
Bodden-type bays can be found inMecklenburg, and inDenmark, where they are calledNor (da). However, the most typical bodden are located off the Pomeranian mainland between the mouth of theRecknitz river and the island ofUsedom. Several adjacent bodden between theFischland-Darß-Zingst peninsula,Hiddensee, the northern and western peninsulae ofRügen and the Pomeranian mainland are grouped as Bodden chains (Boddenketten):
Another bodden is theBay of Greifswald (Greifswalder Bodden), the northern parts of which constitute theRügischer Bodden withSchoritzer Wiek,Wreechensee,Having Inlet withNeuensiener See andSelliner See, andHagensche Wiek. To the south, the Bay of Greifswald comprisesGristower Inwiek,Kooser See andDänische Wieck (Danish Bay).
The Bay of Greifswald is connected to the West Rügen bodden chain by theStrelasund, a bodden-type strait withGlewitzer Wiek,Puddeminer Wiek andDeviner See; it is further connected to theOder Lagoon by thePeenestrom, another bodden-type strait withSpandowerhagener Wiek,Krösliner See,Hohendorfer See,Krumminer Wiek andAchterwasser.
The bodden are important sanctuaries for many species of birds and are especially important resting places for migratory birds like cranes and geese. This was the reason for the establishment of theWestern Pomerania Lagoon Area National Park (Nationalpark Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaft), comprising most of the bodden betweenDarß andRügen.
Traditionally bodden have been good fishing areas, rich inMesolithic community sites, in particular thePomeranian bodden ofRügen,Greifswald andPeenestrom. From these waters anglers regularly land 10–15 kgpike.[2]
