The Schleswig Geest (german: Schleswigsche Geest, da, Slesvigsk Gest, Midtslesvig or Midtsletten) lies between the North Frisian

Marsh A marsh is a wetland that is dominated by herbaceous rather than woody plant species.Keddy, P.A. 2010. Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation (2nd edition). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 497 p Marshes can often be found at ...

and

Schleswig-Holstein Uplands The Schleswig-Holstein Uplands or Schleswig-Holstein Morainic Uplands Dickinson, Robert E (1964). ''Germany: A regional and economic geography'' (2nd ed.). London: Methuen. . (German: ''Schleswig-Holsteinisches Hügelland'') is one of the three l ...

in the north of

Schleswig-Holstein Schleswig-Holstein (; da, Slesvig-Holsten; nds, Sleswig-Holsteen; frr, Slaswik-Holstiinj) is the northernmost of the 16 states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Sch ...

( Southern Schleswig) in

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

. To the south, it transitions into the

Eider-Treene Depression The Eider-Treene Depression (german: Eider-Treene-Niederung; da, Ejder-Trene-Sænkningen) is a landscape in west Schleswig-Holstein in North Germany. It covers around the rivers Eider, Treene and Sorge. The Eider-Treene Depression is the large ...

Geest Geest is a type of landform, slightly raised above the surrounding countryside, that occurs on the plains of Northern Germany, the Northern Netherlands and Denmark. It is a landscape of sandy and gravelly soils formed as a glacial outwash plai ...

is one of the three landscape forms in Schleswig-Holstein. Its sandy soils contrast with the fertile soils of the marshes and hill country. The Schleswig Geest was settled in the 6th century by the

Danes Danes ( da, danskere, ) are a North Germanic ethnic group and nationality native to Denmark and a modern nation identified with the country of Denmark. This connection may be ancestral, legal, historical, or cultural. Danes generally regard t ...

and Jutes. The Ochsenweg ("Ox Road"), one of the most important communication arteries in the

North European The northern region of Europe has several definitions. A restrictive definition may describe Northern Europe as being roughly north of the southern coast of the Baltic Sea, which is about 54th parallel north, 54°N, or may be based on other g ...

region, runs through the Schleswig Geest. The so-called Geest Ridge (''Geestrücken'') was the best strip of land for a north-south route. Whilst the marsh was too soft and wet for long-distance roads on which to move cattle and armies, the Angeln was just too hilly.

Sources

* Jochen Missfeldt: ''Die Geest'' (in "Deutsche Landschaften") S. Fischer Verlag, Natural regions of Germany Regions of Schleswig-Holstein Geest {{SchleswigHolstein-geo-stub