Råbjerg Mile – a sand dune on the move

Country: Denmark
Place: Råbjerg Mile, between Frederikshavn and Skagen
Visited in: May 2009

Containing about 4 million cubic metres of sand and travelling at an average speed of around 15 metres a year in a north-easterly direction, Råbjerg Mile is one of Europe’s largest migrating sand dunes. (source: Råbjerg Mile brochure in Danish (PDF))

Råbjerg Mile is located in North Jutland, Denmark, between Frederikshavn and Skagen, an area where most wandering sand dunes have been stopped in their tracks by dune plantations established by the Danish government in the late 19th century. Råbjerg Mile, however, was put under a conservation act and left to travel, in order for migration dunes not to become extinct.

When I visited Råbjerg Mile, or Milen as it is locally known, in May, I only stayed for a short while. But ideally, I would recommend that you take your time exploring the 1000m x 1000m dune, particularly if you bring children. With its highest point at 40 metres above sea-level, who can resist rolling down the dune?

A few more photos are available on our Råbjerg Mile photo page.

TAGS: Denmark, Råbjerg Mile, travel