Nissum Fjord

Together, the banks of reeds, the seaside meadows and the shallows make up one of the most beautiful fjordland areas in West Jutland. The fjord is fed with water from the Ramme Å, Flynder Å and, in particular, Storeå rivers, the mouth of the last of which empties into Felsted Kog. At Thorsminde, the lock constructed at the end of the 1800s is used to help regulate the water level and salt content of the fjord. The salt content varies greatly from area to area, and the freshest water is around Felsted Kog. In the fjord lies the 40 hectare island Fjandø,
which is an important breeding area for aquatic birds. There are also a number of smaller islands and islets in the fjord.

Today, the fjord is heavily affected by nutrients from the nearby farms, which have eradicated the plant life on large areas of the fjord bed. Previously, large parts of the fjord
bed were covered in plants, which provided a good source of food for foraging aquatic
birds including ducks, but many of these plants – such as the important eelgrass –
disappeared during the 1980s.

On account of the natural treasures that remain, the fjord is still considered an area of
international importance – what is known as a NATURA 2000 area – and the seaside meadows north of Thorsminde and the meadow immediately south of the town have been classified as protected, to preserve the habitats of the birds and the distinctive flora.