Gellen

The dredging of the shipping channel between the island of Bock and the Gellen prevents a graded shoreline from being formed, which would otherwise be typical of the eastern Baltic Sea area with its numerous spits.

Place names on the Gellen from north to south: On the western shore of the Neugellen is a sea cliff up to four metres high, which unlike the Dornbusch has its origins in dune formation, not ice age depositions.

On the Altgellen is a coastal defence wood of wind-resistant Scots Pine has been planted; further south there are also a few individual birches and other trees.

Groynes (some even made of stone), beach nourishment, artificial dunes and the planting of Beachgrass and pines are being used to counteract the abrasion of the coastline.

In the early 14th century, Gellen Church (Gellenkirche), a small beacon (called Luchte) and the first harbour were built on the island of Hiddensee.