Råbjerg Mile

History

In northern Jutland in the 16th and 17th centuries, shifting dunes were a problem for the population: huge dunes, some stretching up to 7 km (4.3 mi) inland, drove them back from the coastal areas, but in the 19th century the government acted to alleviate the problem. The Sand Drift Act of 1857 allowed the state to buy or expropriate areas of sand drift, and a further Act in 1857 allowed the purchase of areas adjacent to the drifts. Dune grasses and conifers were planted to stabilize the sands and these plantations became common after 1880. Although barren, the dune zone allowed limited sheep farming and some inshore fishing. By the 1950s, the dune drifts were under control.

An important example of the power of the migrating sand is the Sand-Covered Church. Built in the late 14th century and dedicated to Saint Lawrence of Rome, it was almost entirely enveloped in sand by the 18th century. By 1795, the church was abandoned to the sands. The main building was demolished, leaving the tower standing, still visible above the sands.