Måkläppen is a

nature reserve A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, funga, or features of geologic ...

that protrudes from the

Falsterbo Falsterbo (, outdatedly ) is a town located at the south-western tip of Sweden in Vellinge Municipality in Skåne. Falsterbo is situated in the southern part of the Falsterbo peninsula. It is part of Skanör med Falsterbo, one of Sweden's histori ...

peninsula A peninsula is a landform that extends from a mainland and is only connected to land on one side. Peninsulas exist on each continent. The largest peninsula in the world is the Arabian Peninsula. Etymology The word ''peninsula'' derives , . T ...

in southwestern Sweden. It was created by sandbanks built on top of a

moraine A moraine is any accumulation of unconsolidated debris (regolith and Rock (geology), rock), sometimes referred to as glacial till, that occurs in both currently and formerly glaciated regions, and that has been previously carried along by a gla ...

core. The Måkläppen nature reserve and nature conservation association was formed in 1899 through the efforts of conservationists including

Paul Rosenius Johan Anders Martin Paul Rosenius (12 March 1865 – 5 July 1957) was a Swedish physician, ornithologist, artist and writer. He was a pioneer bird photographer and conservationist. A major work by him was a six-volume book on the birds of Sweden an ...

. The appearance of Måkläppen changes as sand builds up and is taken away by wind, ocean currents, storm surges and high tides. These processes, in addition to abrasion and

beach erosion Coastal erosion is the loss or displacement of land, or the long-term removal of sediment and rocks along the coastline due to the action of waves, currents, tides, wind-driven water, waterborne ice, or other impacts of storms. The landward r ...

, removes the sand previously sent there. Many kinds of

waterfowl Anseriformes is an order of birds also known as waterfowl that comprises about 180 living species of birds in three families: Anhimidae (three species of screamers), Anseranatidae (the magpie goose), and Anatidae, the largest family, which i ...

nest at Måkläppen, and it is an important site for

harbor A harbor (American English), or harbour (Commonwealth English; see spelling differences), is a sheltered body of water where ships, boats, and barges can be moored. The term ''harbor'' is often used interchangeably with ''port'', which is ...

and

grey seal The grey seal (''Halichoerus grypus'') is a large seal of the family Phocidae, which are commonly referred to as "true seals" or "earless seals". The only species classified in the genus ''Halichoerus'', it is found on both shores of the Nort ...

s. Because of the area's natural importance, no access is allowed from February to the end of October. Depending on how currents change, one might encounter small to large remnants of wooden ships up to several hundred years old when walking along the sandbar. In the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...

it is believed some temporary settlements may have existed on the island.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Maklappen Geography of Skåne County Nature reserves in Skåne County Tourist attractions in Skåne County Skanör med Falsterbo