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{{Short description|Type of polder}}
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A '''''koog''''' (plural: ''köge'') or '''''groden''''' is a type of [[polder]] found on the [[North Sea]] coast of [[Germany]] that is established by the construction of [[dyke (embankment)|dykes]] enclosing the land which is then drained to form [[marshland]]. This type of land reclamation is also used along rivers. In general, a ''koog'' is protected by [[Levee|embankments]] known as dykes (''Deiche'').
[[File:Westerkoog feb.jpg|thumb|[[Hedwigenkoog|Westerkoog]] (Dithmarschen): typical ''koog'' landscape]]

== Etymology ==
Unlike the meaning in modern German, [[Ingvaeonic languages|Ingvaeonic]] ''*kāg'', [[Old Dutch]] ''*kōg'', modern [[Dutch language|Dutch]] ''koog'' and [[West Frisian Dutch]] ''kaag'' all designate "land outside the dike". In the Netherlands, it primarily survives in place names (e.g. [[De Koog]], [[Koog aan de Zaan]], [[Kaag]]).<ref>[http://www.etymologiebank.nl/trefwoord/koog Koog] at etymologiebank.nl</ref> From the [[Dithmarschen]] word ''koch'' (15th and 16th centuries), it went into [[Danish language|Danish]] as ''kog''. In [[North Frisian language|North Frisian]] it is ''kuch''. The spelling ''koog'' was used by the poet Michael Richey in 1755 and around 1700, what is now the port of [[Cuxhaven]] was still called ''Koogshaven''.<ref>[[Friedrich Kluge]]: ''Etymologisches Wörterbuch''. De Gruyter, Berlin 1975, Lemma Kog.</ref>

== Polders ==
In the [[Netherlands]] and in the adjacent regions of [[East Frisia]] the word [[polder]] (Low German: ''Poller'') is used for land enclosed by embankments from where the water is artificially drained. The etymology of the word polder/poller is unclear but it is probably related to English ''pool''.<ref>[http://www.etymologiebank.nl/trefwoord/polder1 Polder] at etymologiebank.nl</ref> 

== ''Groden'' ==
The term ''groden'' (cf. the English verb "to grow") used in [[Lower Saxony]], particularly in  the eastern part of East Frisia and in the [[Oldenburg Land]], refers to new areas of land washed up by the sea. Sediments are deposited by the sea on [[mud flat]]s when the [[tide]]s change. After reaching a certain height, the land is dyked. Dyked land becomes ''innengroden''. As a result of draining the fertile soil compacts and, over time, can sink until it is below sea level. The rising sea level in front of the dyke and the sinking of the old, now drained, sea areas behind the dyke leads to further dykes being built at an ever-higher level to enclose the newly dyked areas of marsh. In this way a so-called "polder staircase" is formed.<ref>[http://www.nationalpark-wattenmeer.de/sites/default/files/media/pdf/_klimapfad_broschuere_klein.pdf Klimapfad Sande, Seite 22] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151215052140/http://www.nationalpark-wattenmeer.de/sites/default/files/media/pdf/_klimapfad_broschuere_klein.pdf |date=2015-12-15 }} (pdf; 1.5&nbsp;MB), retrieved 20 May 2013</ref>

The name ''groden'' is found for example in the borough of [[Wilhelmshaven]] in the villages of Altengroden, [[Neuengroden]] and [[Fedderwardergroden]], the [[Heppenser Groden Naval Base|Heppenser]], Voslapper and Rüstersieler Groden, and in the surrounding area are the [[Cäciliengroden]], Petersgroden and Adelheidsgroden. All these areas, whether they emerged more recently (i.e. in the 20th century) or in older times, were formed as a result of dyke enclosure and ''Aufspülung'', as is often the case with polders.

: → ''See also [[salt marsh]]''

== Drainage ==
[[File:KinderdijkMolens01.jpg|thumb|(Pump) mill on a dyke at the Overwaard Polder near [[Kinderdijk]]]]
Because a ''koog'' often lies below the level of the adjacent sea or river, it has to be continually drained. This is carried out with the aid of [[soakaway]]s, [[sluice]]s, [[pumping station]]s and [[water pump]]s.<ref name="Loki">Klaus-Joachim Lorenzen-Schmidt, Ortwin Pelc: ''Schleswig-Holstein Lexikon''. Wachholtz, Neumunster, 2006, Lemma Koog.</ref>

Today the pumps are powered by engines, in pre-industrial times and sometimes even into the period of intense industrialisation, they were driven by [[wind power]] ([[wind pump]]s). The groups of [[wind mill]]s on the dykes of the [[Rhine]] delta - a symbol of the Netherlands - are old water pumps.

== Riparian ''köge'' ==
As well land reclaimed from the sea, a ''koog'' may also refer to land reclaimed alongside rivers. These are usually wet areas that are now used for agriculture. This entails creating a completely new ecosystem from a river meadow or a [[carr (landform)|carr]]. Often its name will recall its original situation, for example, the [[Oderbruch]].

On the [[Rhine]], [[Elbe]] and [[Oder]] rivers these areas are also used for [[flood protection]]. Once the flooding has subsided, water is pumped out again and the land can be used for farming until the next flood.

Until the 1950s, ''köge'' were mainly created to reclaim land for farming; since then [[Coastal management|coastal defence]] has been the main aim.

== North German ''köge'' ==
On the western coast of [[Schleswig-Holstein]] and on the shores of the Lower [[Elbe]] over 230 ''koogs'' have been created over the centuries. The oldest ones are in the borough of [[Eiderstedt]]; they date to the 11th century.<ref name="Loki" /> After the [[Burchardi flood]] of 1634, an increasing number of "[[octroi]]" ''koogs'' were built.<br> Well known ''koogs'' include:
* County of [[Kreis Dithmarschen|Dithmarschen]]
** Christianskoog
** [[Delver Koog]]
** [[Dieksanderkoog]] (formerly Adolf Hitler Koog)
** [[Friedrichsgabekoog]]
** [[Friedrichskoog]]
** [[Hedwigenkoog]]
** [[Kaiser-Wilhelm-Koog]]
** [[Karolinenkoog]]
** [[Kronprinzenkoog]]
** [[Neufelderkoog]]
** Preiler Koog
** [[Speicherkoog (Dithmarschen)|Speicherkoog]] in the [[Bay of Meldorf]]
** [[Wesselburenerkoog]]
** Westerkoog
* County of [[Nordfriesland]]
** [[Augustenkoog]]
** [[Beltringharder Koog]]
** [[Hauke-Haien-Koog]] (named after the lead character of the novella ''[[The Rider on the White Horse]]'' by [[Theodor Storm]])
** [[Friedrich-Wilhelm-Lübke-Koog]] – in 1954 the last ''koog'' reclaimed for settlement in Schleswig-Holstein.
** [[Gotteskoog]]
** [[Tümlauer-Koog]] (formerly Hermann Göring Koog)
** [[Norderheverkoog]] (formerly Horst Wessel Koog)
** [[Bottschlotter Koog]] ([[Dagebüll]])
** [[Kleiseerkoog]] ([[Galmsbüll]])
** [[Herrenkoog]]
** Former island of [[Nordstrand, Germany|Nordstrand]]
*** [[Elisabeth-Sophien-Koog]]
*** Alter Koog
*** Osterkoog
*** Trendermarschkoog
*** Neukoog
*** Morsumkoog
*** [[Pohnshalligkoog]]
** Municipality of [[Reußenköge]]
*** [[Cecilienkoog]]
*** [[Desmerciereskoog]]
*** [[Louisenkoog|Louisen-Reußen-Koog]]
*** [[Reußenkoog]]
*** [[Sönke-Nissen-Koog]]
*** [[Sophien-Magdalenen-Koog]]
* County of [[Kreis Pinneberg|Pinneberg]]
** Hetlinger Neuerkoog
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== Ausdeichungen ==
Manchmal musste bereits besiedeltes und bedeichtes Marschland nach Sturmfluten aufgegeben werden. Das Land wurde durch neue oder rückverlegte Deiche zunächst ''ausgedeicht'' und konnte oft erst nach wiederholten Anstrengungen wieder eingedeicht werden.
* Altenkoog bei [[Ostermoor (Brunsbüttel)|Ostermoor]], ausgedeicht 1687–1762
* Brunsbüttel-Eddelaker Koog ([[Brunsbüttel|„Brunsbüttelkoog“]]), ausgedeicht 1717–1762 („Soldatendeich“)
* [[Dammkoog]], ausgedeicht 1362–1489
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== Literature ==
* Harry Kunz, Albert Panten: ''Die Köge Nordfrieslands.'' Mit Karte. Nordfriisk Instituut, Bräist/Bredstedt, 1997, {{ISBN|3-88007-251-5}} (''Nordfriisk Instituut'' 144).

== External links ==
{{Commonscat|Polders in Germany}}
{{Wiktionary|Koog}}
* [http://www.nlwkn.niedersachsen.de/master/C26877006_N26874911_L20_D0_I5231158.html Salzderhelden]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Landforms]]
[[Category:Koogs|!]]