Eiderstedt: Discover the hidden amber gold of the North Sea!

Eiderstedt: Discover the hidden amber gold of the North Sea!

Indian summer not only brings golden colors to nature, but also the opportunity to uncover a treasure that is often overlooked: amber. While many people immediately think of the Baltic Sea when they think of fossil resin, the beaches on the west coast of Schleswig-Holstein also have a lot to offer. The Eiderstedt peninsula in particular has proven to be a true Eldorado for amber lovers.

In St. Peter-Ording, amber expert Boy Jöns shows that the region offers ideal locations because the country is poor in stones and this makes finding amber easier. According to research by scientist Benjamin Serbe from the University of Kiel, the North Sea is particularly rich in amber due to ice age rearrangements. The currents and the high salt content promote the transport of the valuable resin to the coast - a truly beautiful side effect of nature.

The search for gold in the North Sea

If you want to do your own search, now is your best chance. Future storms and sediment movements could further increase the amount of amber found. According to Jöns, the price for amber is stable at around 1.50 euros per gram; A piece the size of a two-euro coin is traded for four to five euros. Nevertheless, for many collectors the ideal value is often higher than the financial gain.

The best times to search are about one to three hours after high water. Then the amber is often in close proximity to “black crumbs” such as wood, seaweed or shells. The chance of finding the coveted Harz increases, especially after storms with onshore winds. You can recognize real amber because it is light, warm to the touch and gives off a resinous scent when rubbed, while synthetic resin or glass is heavier and colder.

Look into the past

What many people don't know: The amber that is washed out of the tides today is around 44 million years old and comes from primeval trees. In Europe, the most important deposits can be found in the North Sea, Baltic Sea and the Baltic States. Excitingly, there are other locations around the world, from Alaska to New Guinea, each with their own peculiarities. The famous Baltic amber has developed over millions of years in various regions, with some hotspots in Germany and Denmark.

If you would like to find out more about the captivating world of amber, you can find it here Amber Museum a wealth of information about the occurrence, creation and history of this fascinating natural product.

Collecting amber becomes not only a hobby, but also a little trip into the past. With every discovery, you hold a piece of earth's history in your hand that has come to us from times long past. So it remains exciting to see what treasures the next storms will wash up on the beaches of the North Sea!