Møkedybet

The natural channel leading westwards from Marstal is called Mørkedybet (The Dark Abyss). At the end of the Ice Age, it was a glacial stream. The buoys and beacons are close to each other. On the port side is Skaaen, which can be navigated and is used by the local population to cut off the eastern part of the buoyed channel. In the summer, the narrow channel is very busy, and you will encounter many different boats. On the starboard side, the water is not as deep, and you will pass Grensholm, Bredholm – with sheep grazing – and the two low islets of Buddiken and Græsholm, before reaching Birkholm on the starboard side and Store Egholm (Large Egholm) on the port side after sailing for about 1.5 nautical miles.

Birkholm has a small harbour, from where the mail boat sails to Marstal also carrying passengers. Less than ten people live on Birkholm, compared to 89 people in 1870. It is the lowest of the inhabited islands in The South Fyn Archipelago, and is circumvented by dykes. The island’s highest point is located to the west and is called Hyllens Bakke (Hyllens Hill) – it reaches a mere 2.5 metres in height. The houses and the few farms are bunched in the middle of the island and constitute a diminutive village.

Since the 1990’s, there has been no farming on Birkholm, however, some farmers from “Taasinge og Fyns Kolaug” (The Cow Guild of Tåsinge and Fyn) have leased the farmland for their cattle to graze. Throughout the summer, the small harbour is brimming with visiting boats. If you want to avoid the chaos, you can cast anchor off the little beach just north of the harbour. The island only has gravel roads and therefore no car traffic, so visitors can walk around in peace and quiet. The tidal meadows and channels on Birkholm are home to a diverse range of animal life. A lot of different bird species breed on the island, and the fire-bellied toad has once again settled here after having been recently released in the water meadows. You can hear the toad’s beautiful, bell-like call in May.

The low, uninhabited islets called Lille Egholm (Small Egholm) and Store Egholm (Large Egholm) are located opposite Birkholm. Don’t forget that it is not permitted to go ashore on the islets between March 1st and July 15th due to the breeding season.