Uwe Düne

UWEDÜNE
"Uwe's Dune" is the highest natural elevation of the island Sylt with 52.5m. It is named after lawyer and bailiff Uwe Jens Lornsen

Uwe Jens Lornsen is one of the first syltian students with a quick career as lawyer and civil servant for the danish state. 1830 he became bailiff of Sylt an pushed for drastic constitution reforms to connect the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein. His publication 'On the constitution of Schleswigholstein' is considered the first parliamentary constitution draft in German and led to Lornsens imprisonment and sentence of one year. After his discharge he turned his back on Sylt an migrated to Brasil. Later he retired to Lake Geneva where he committed suicide in 1838.

Teacher and chronist Christian Peter Hansen mapped the island and published the first maps for spa guests in 1866. The hill was first called "Uwe's Mountain". Geologically it is a wandering dune that went dormant by plant covering. Today there is an viewing platform with a 110 wooden steps that offers a view of the neighboring islands and the mainland to over 100,000 visitors each year.