Kalvebod Fælled - Kastrup

Kalvebod Fælled Vestamager

Experience birds of prey hunting for mice and hear larks and plovers singing in the air during the summer months. The nature of Vestamager plays a special role for breeding shorebirds, gulls, and terns. It is also an important food depot for swans, ducks, and other birds migrating between Europe and Scandinavia. Cows, deer, sheep, and horses ensure that the forest does not spread into the open plains.

The Diking of Vestamager

The natural area was diked during World War II and lies 0-2 meters below sea level. A 13 km long dike keeps the seawater out. Many kilometers of ditches and pumping stations at the northern and southern ends ensure that rainwater is pumped out to the sea. Before 1938, this area was water, and the entire island of Amager was 1/3 smaller. Nordre Klapper, Svenskeholm, and Koklapperne were small islands in the Kalvebod strait.

Vestamager was diked during World War II. The work started in 1939 and by 1944 the 13 km long dike was completed. The aim of the diking was to create a new training area for the military, but also to employ the unemployed. The work on the diking was supposed to provide jobs for about 600 men. Before the area could be used as a military training area, the water had to be pumped out.

Military Training Area.

Amager Fælled has been used as a shooting range back to the 18th century. However, as the city moved closer and military weapons became more long-range, there was a need for larger areas further away from settlements. In 1955, when the area was reasonably dry, military shooting ranges, observation towers, and roads were constructed in the area, and the training area was officially put into use in 1956. Until 1984, the area was used for its original purpose. Some unexploded ammunition has remained underground since military times, which meant that until just a few years ago, it was only allowed to move on roads, paths, and hills. The entire Vestamager has now been cleared of unexploded ammunition.

Naturcenter Vestamager

Naturcenter Vestamager offers something for every nature enthusiast. Come in and see the current exhibition, have a chat with the nature guide, try some of the site's other outdoor activities, or simply refill your water bottle before continuing your journey.

Tårnby Church and Rectory

Tårnby Church can .../read more at friluftsguiden.dk.