View source for Zingst

{{Short description|Peninsula in Germany}}
{{Hatnote|For the municipality, see [[Zingst, Germany]].}}
{{More footnotes|date=December 2016}}
[[Image:Hafen Zingst.JPG|thumb|The harbour of Zingst]]
[[File:Zingst Strand2.jpg|thumb|[[Baltic Sea]] beach of Zingst]]
[[File:Kurhaus Zingst 2006.jpg|thumb|Kurhaus Zingst (''spa hotel'' at the beach)]]
[[File:Kapitaenshaus zingst.jpg|thumb|Typical Zingst captain's house]]
[[File:Zingst - Blick auf das Hotel Steigenberger - geograph.org.uk - 8655.jpg|thumb|[[Steigenberger]] Grand Hotel Zingst]]

'''Zingst'''  ({{IPA|de|ˈtsɪŋst}}; [[Polabian language|Polabian]] ''Sgoni'') is the easternmost portion of the three-part [[Fischland-Darß-Zingst]] Peninsula, located in [[Mecklenburg-Vorpommern]], [[Germany]], between the cities of [[Rostock]] and [[Stralsund]] on the southern shore of the [[Baltic Sea]].

The area is part of the [[Pomerania]]n coast. The Zingst Peninsula forms an eastward-running [[Spit (landform)|spit]], nearly {{convert|20|km|abbr=on}} in length, and has a width of just {{convert|2|to|4|km|sigfig=2|abbr=on}}.

Zingst separates the Baltic Sea from the lagoon of [[Barther Bodden]], which is part of the [[Darss-Zingst Bodden Chain]], a large [[estuary]].<ref>[http://www.pml.ac.uk/biomare/sites/Darß-Zingst.htm]{{dead link|date=July 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The shallow waters of the inlet are a major stopover for the migratory European [[crane (bird)|crane]]. In spring and autumn, up to 3,000 birds gather here on their migration route to and from Spain.<ref>{{cite web |author=Stadtverwaltung Barth, CMidesign Barth |url=http://www.stadt-barth.de/tourismus/e_darss.html |title=Vineta-Stadt-Barth - sehen - erleben - erholen an der Ostsee |website=Stadt-barth.de |date=2007-10-01 |access-date=2016-12-12 |archive-date=2005-03-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050313205458/http://www.stadt-barth.de/tourismus/e_darss.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://vorpommern.de/1/index_521.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051029124426/http://vorpommern.de/1/index_521.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2005-10-29 |title=Ostsee Urlaub |date=2005-10-29 |access-date=2016-12-12}}</ref> Most of the estuary and the eastern end of the peninsula are part of the [[Western Pomerania Lagoon Area National Park]].

Until the early 1870s, Zingst was an island, separated from [[Darß]] by the [[Prerowstrom]], a narrow inlet. A storm tide in 1874 closed the inlet, which had connected the ''[[bodden]]'' with the Baltic Sea. A road now connects Zingst and Darß, running along a {{convert|100|meter|abbr=on}}-wide [[isthmus]].

The soils of Zingst consist almost entirely of sand. The sand is white in colour, which makes it popular with sunbathers and tourists. Dunes border the Baltic Sea and enclose low ground about half a metre below sea level. The low-lying land results in boggy conditions in the interior of the peninsula, and these bogs offer habitat to a wide variety of wildlife.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.howtogermany.com/pages/beaches.html |title=Northeastern Beaches in Germany |publisher=How To Germany |access-date=2016-12-12 |archive-date=2016-11-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161123111807/http://www.howtogermany.com/pages/beaches.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The ruins of a Slavic fort, the 'Hertesburg,' are on the Zingst peninsula near Zingst municipality.

== Geology, climate and natural region ==
The peninsula of Zingst or ''the Zingst'' is the easternmost part of the Fischland-Darß-Zingst peninsula that lies between the city of Rostock and town of Stralsund on the southern Baltic Sea coast. With a length of just under 20&nbsp;km and a width of {{convert|2|to|4|km|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} the Zingst stretches eastwards from the adjacent peninsula of [[Darß]]. It is bounded to the north by the Baltic and to the south by the lagoons of [[Barther Bodden]] und [[Grabow (Bodden)|Grabow]], that belong to the [[Darss-Zingst Bodden Chain]]. The island of [[Großer Werder (Zingst)|Großer Werder]], which once lay off the eastern coast of Zingst, has now become attached as a peninsula as a result of sanding up.

The land bridge to Darß to the west is only about {{convert|100|meters|abbr=on}} wide and right on the Baltic Sea. At this spot in 1874 the inlet of [[Prerower Strom]], which had hitherto lined the lagoon and the Baltic, was artificially closed following the [[1872 Baltic Sea flood]]. Only since that time has Zingst no longer been an island.

The settlement heart of the village of Zingst lies between the ''Freesenbruch'' in the west, the Baltic in the north, the ''Alte Straminke,'' an old sea inlet with its surrounding marshes, in the east, and the channel of [[Zingster Strom]] in the south. The village is barely above sea level, so that it has to be protected from [[storm flood]]s by dykes. Further east, on the Zingster Strom, is the village of Müggenburg.

East of the village of Zingst lies a large forest, very rich in wildlife, called the [[Osterwald (Zingst)|Osterwald]]. Beyond that are the [[Sund Meadows]] (''Sundischen Wiesen'') named after Stralsund. The easternmost point of the peninsula is [[Pramort]].

=== Geology ===
The original island of Zingst is, geologically, a very young landscape. Its formation process began with the end of [[Weichselian glaciation]], about 12,000 years ago. This left behind a [[Young Drift]] landscape. As a result of the melting ice sheet, the underlying land lifted and the hollows were filled with water and the predecessor to the Baltic Sea, [[Lake Ancylus]], was created. The tops of the ridges remained exposed as islands. The major outline of the coasts in the southern area of the Baltic Sea were formed by the [[Littorina transgression]], about 7,000 to 2,500 years ago. About 5,000 years ago, the sea reached its present level and the cores of today's Darß and Zingst became islands. 4,500 years ago, the salt water inflow from the North Sea reduced greatly and, since then, the Baltic Sea has slowly become less salty. [[Coastal erosion]] (abrasion, dispersal and deposition) has extended the original islands in the course of time to their present form. About 1,500 years ago, the ever-lengthening [[spit (landform)|spit]]s cut off the bays lying behind them, forming a string of lagoons known as the Darss-Zingst Bodden Chain. Finally, in 1874, the Prerower Strom channel between the Darß and Zingst was artificially closed. Towards the end of the 20th century the former island of Great Werder became connected to the Zingst as the strait between them silted up. This area is a [[windwatt]]. The process of land formation continues at the eastern end of the peninsula today. Zingst lies between the accretion zones of ''Darßer Ort'' and ''Bock''. Sediment is transported in a west-to-east direction, and the beach at Zingst loses 40&nbsp;cm annually. The loss was mainly caused by storm surges, so this process is now severely weakened.

=== Climate ===
[[File:Klimadiagramm-deutsch-Barth (MV)-Deutschland.png|thumb|Climatic diagram for Barth]]
Zingst exhibits a North Mecklenburg coastal climate. The annual average temperature is {{convert|7.8|°C}}. The number of frosty days is 11.1 and the number of hot summer days (temperatures over {{convert|25|°C}}) is 7.9. Precipitation is a relatively low {{convert|600|mm|sigfig=2}} per year. The average humidity is very high as a result of its coastal location. As a result the number of dull days is 146.

=== Flora and fauna ===
The [[Osterwald (Zingst)|Osterwald]] forest is the only [[raised bog]] in [[Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania]], but it has been partially dried out as a result of human intervention. The tree species here include [[birch]], [[Quercus robur|English oak]], [[beech]] and [[pine]]. Other trees introduced by humans include [[alder]], [[spruce]] and [[fir]]s. A feature is the [[Sequoioideae|redwood]]s, planted in 1955. Amongst the animal population are [[tawny owl]], [[red kite]] and [[short-eared owl]]. [[European pine marten|Pine martens]] are also common.
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Daran schließen sich östlich die [[Sundische Wiesen|Sundischen Wiesen]] an. Dieser Teil der Halbinsel sowie die umliegenden Ostsee- und Bodden-Gewässer und die südlich der Ortschaft Zingst gelegenen Vogelinseln Kirr und Barther Oie gehören zum [[Nationalpark Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaft]]. Der Bereich der Sundischen Wiesen ist sogar als Schutzzone I ausgewiesen. Am Beginn der Wiesen steht eine Station des Nationalparkamtes mit einer kleinen Ausstellung. Im Dünengebiet wachsen [[Strandhafer]] und [[Strandroggen]] mit ihren langen tiefgehenden Wurzeln, in den feuchten Spülsaumgebieten [[Strand-Milchkraut|Salzkraut]] und [[Salzmiere]]. Im Gebiet nördlich der Fahrstraße dominieren Zwergsträucher wie [[Krähenbeere]] und [[Heidekraut]]. Vereinzelt gibt es Kiefernwäldchen. In den südlich liegenden Gebieten an der Boddenküste wachsen die [[Bodden-Binse]], [[Straußgräser|Flutstraußgras]], [[Grasnelke]], [[Queller]] und die [[Salzmiere]].

Im Bereich der Sundischen Wiesen und den umliegenden Uferbereichen rasten während der Vogelflugzeit 9 der 15 bekannten [[Echte Gänse|Gänsearten]] und 35 verschiedene Küstenvogelarten.

Östlich des Zingstes liegt einer der größten Rastplätze für [[Kranich (Art)|Kraniche]] in Europa, die hier bis zu einigen Wochen Rast machen. Die aus Skandinavien oder Nordrussland stammenden Kraniche ziehen ab Mitte August in größeren Rastgruppen über die Halbinsel. Die Zahl der rastenden Vögel erreicht zwischen Mitte und Ende Oktober ihren Höhepunkt mit mehreren 10.000 Vögeln. Der Abzug der Kraniche findet zwischen Mitte August und Mitte Oktober statt, gelegentlich auch noch im November. In [[Pramer Ort|Pramort]] an der Ostspitze der Halbinsel befindet sich ein Beobachtungspunkt. Der Zugang zum Pramort ist während der Zeit des Kranichzuges im Herbst reglementiert. Auch in der Nähe des Ortes Zingst befinden sich gegenüber der Insel Kirr einige Beobachtungsplätze.
-->

==Settlement==
[[File:Stadt Zingst.jpg|thumb|Zingst aerial view]]
East of the Prerowstrom, surrounded by countryside and the Freesenbruch, is the town of Barth (population 8,000), which was created by the unification of the settlements of Pahlen, Hanshagen and Rothem ho. Hanshagen and Pahlen date to the 13th century.

The nearby town of Zingst has a population of about 3,200.

== Notable people ==
* [[Bernhard Tessmann]] (1912–1998), expert in guided [[missile]]s during [[World War II|WWII]], later worked for [[NASA]].
* [[Werner Kuhn (politician)|Werner Kuhn]] (born 1955), politician; [[Member of the European Parliament]] (MEP), 2009/2019.

==Rocket experiments==
{{main|Rocket experiments on Zingst}}
At the former [[National People's Army]] training area in the Sundisch meadows from 1970-1992 various experiments were conducted using high-altitude research rockets.

In the early 1970s, five Polish [[Meteor (rocket)|Meteor]] 1E [[sounding rocket]]s were launched from here. From 21 October 1988, Soviet [[MMR06]]-M rockets were launched. Even after [[the Wende]], trials continued. Between 14 February 1992 and 10 April 1992, 19 Russian MMR06-M rockets were fired from Zingst. Although further rockets were available, the launch of MMR06-M rockets on Zingst had to be stopped in April 1992 because the army needed to clear the site to make the out of bounds area safe.

==References==
{{Commons category|Zingst (peninsula)}}
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://home.t-online.de/home/RMT.EB/raketen/zingst/zingstar.htm |title=Top-Themen bei t-online.de |website=Home.t-online.de |access-date=2016-12-12}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/mmr06.htm |title=MMR-06 |website=Astronautix.com |access-date=2016-12-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724054831/http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/mmr06.htm |archive-date=2008-07-24 }}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.astronautix.com/sites/zingst.htm |title=Zingst |website=Astronautix.com |access-date=2016-12-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220191207/http://www.astronautix.com/sites/zingst.htm |archive-date=2016-12-20 }}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web|url=https://maps.google.com/maps?t=k&ll=54.434484,12.803192&spn=0.010608,0.029268&om=1 |title=Google Maps : Satellite picture of former launch site|website=Maps.google.com |access-date=2016-12-12}}</ref>
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050827125534/http://www.zingst.de/2004/zingst/content/01_zingst/0109.html Zingst Webcam]
*[http://www.ferienhaus-order.de/ Zingst Ferienwohnung]
*[http://www.fischland-darss-zingst.net/english/zingst/nature-wildlife/sund-meadow.php/ The Sund Medow] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131008072242/http://www.fischland-darss-zingst.net/english/zingst/nature-wildlife/sund-meadow.php |date=2013-10-08 }}, [http://www.fischland-darss-zingst.net/english/zingst/nature-wildlife/exhibition-sund-meadow.php/ Exhibition Sund Medow] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131008072048/http://www.fischland-darss-zingst.net/english/zingst/nature-wildlife/exhibition-sund-meadow.php |date=2013-10-08 }}

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[[Category:Zingst| ]]
[[Category:Peninsulas of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern]]
[[Category:Seaside resorts in Germany]]
[[Category:Rocket launch sites in Germany]]
[[Category:Spa towns in Germany]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Germany (Baltic Sea)]]
[[Category:Fischland-Darß-Zingst]]