The Iron Coast
Severe storms, treacherous currents and reefs as hard as iron caused ships to be crushed into firewood. Therefore, the west coast from Thyborøn down to Hvide Sande is also called the iron coast. From 1858-1882 no less than 1200 strandings and wrecks have been registered along the coast. The North Sea was feared by the sailors as the current conditions were difficult to calculate and a ship got easily off course. The west coast was flat and without harbours and protective coves.
Visit some of the places where the history is told vivdly. For instance, the Coastal Centre in Thyborøn, where the Russian warship, Alexander Nevskij, which sank off Harboøre in 1868 with 727 men on board, can be experienced. The big anchor from the ship is placed at Thyborøn harbour and is nowadays considered as the harbour's landmark. Bovbjerg lighthouse is in the same way an experience of both historical character but also due to the unique nature. The lighthouse was built in 1877 as a help for sailors in the North Sea. It signals twice every 15 seconds and the light extends to 16 sea miles into the sea.
The Strandingsmuseum St. George is an unique experience, also if you are not especially interested in history. Children of all ages will easily be carried away by the completely different way in which the Strandingsmuseum conveys the stories and all the senses will be used. It is based on the largest stranding disasters in world history, which took place at Christmas in 1811 off Thorsminde, where two English liners HMS St. George and HMS Defence stranded during a hurricane and approximately 1400 people died. In the museum you follow the ships on their last voyage and gain insight into the daily life on an English liner with the help of the many salvaged items from St. George. The large ship's bell, the sound which was the last the many sailors heard before they sunk, is placed in the exhibition and gives light goosebumps on the arms when the deep sound of the bell rings again.
