to stabilize the dykes. Both the Speicherkoog as well as the other undyked areas of Meldorf Bay belong to protection zone 1 of the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park and are therefore subject to special conservation laws. Islands In Meldorf Bay lies the uninhabited island of Helmsand, which is like one of the Halligen and many years ago was linked to the mainland by a causeway. It is also a bird reserve like the island of Trischen, which lies off the bay. Even the sandbanks of Blauort and Tertius may only be visited with special permission. Human use The immediate coastal areas are fully developed for tourism. The Norderpiep and Süderpiep channels provide access to the port of Büsum. The shrimp cutters stationed there fish Meldorf Bay as well as other areas. The southern part of the bay is used by the Bundeswehr as a weapons testing area. In the western part, just north of the Elbe estuary and the Vogelsand is a burial site for those buried at sea. References Literature Michelsen, Hans (2008). Die Abdeichung der Meldorfer Bucht. In: Dithmarschen - Landeskunde - Kultur - Natur, Heft 3/2008, pp. 24−43; Verein für Dithmarscher Landeskunde (Hrsg.), Heide External links Official home page of the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park Official home page of the "Kronenloch" and "Wöhrdener Loch" nature reserves The Bay of Meldorf at www.meldorf-nordsee.de. Meldorf Dithmarschen