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Description
Filsø covers an area of 2308 ha near the west coast of Jutland between Ringkøbing Fjord and the Wadden Sea. Drainage of Filsø began in 1852, when the waterlevel was lowered by 3m. This meant that most of the lake bed became pastureland, which was harvested for hay. In 1941-51, Filsø was drained even more and the lake bed could be intensively cultivated. In 2010, Filsø was taken over by Aage V. Jensen Naturfond, and a re-establishment project was begun. The embankments and buildings were removed and the pump stations stopped. A new, shallow lake surrounded by meadows, marshes and reed beds has been re-established in the place of the cultivated fields. The lake has a number of small fox-proof islands and islets where birds can breed. The causeway, which has been raised, runs across the new lake, so it is still possible to walk and cycle across the area. Together with Filsø Heath and Fidde Lake, the natural area measures 2.328 hectares in all
Filsø is situated on the flyway for several hundred thousand migrating birds and has become an important stop-over spot for geese, ducks, swans and kulík zlatý. Different species of ducks, geese, swans and grebes are breeding birds. Also bukač velký, kulík říční, čejka chocholatá, bekasina otavní, racek chechtavý, ledňáček říční, orel mořský, rybák obecný and vodouš rudonohý breed in the area. A kormorán velký colony formed on the island of Aages Holm and up to 1000 pairs breed on Storeholm and Under Holmbanken. The reedbeds house Chřástal vodní, rákosník proužkovaný, rákosník obecný and sýkořice vousatá. The many passerines that breed in the area include slavík modráček (around 25 pairs), bramborníček hnědý, bramborníček černohlavý and strnad rákosní. Several pairs of ťuhýk obecný can be seen in the area. 2-3 pairs of jeřáb popelavý breed here and can be seen throughout the year.
Details
Access
Filsø is situated to the east of a minor road connecting route 465 in the north (the road to Henne Strand) and route 431 in the south (the main road between Oksbøl and Blåvand). The southern stretch of the road is called Kærgårdvej and the northern stretch Porsmosevej. Filsø can be accessed from the roads west and north of the area.
By driving north along Kærgårdvej one reaches a car park at Kærgård Plantage. Here are toilets, a barbecue site and an information pavilion. From the car park, a disabled-friendly path leads to Petersholm, where there is a large bird observation tower with access for wheelchairs. From here there is a good view over Petersholm and Søndersø.
The main entrance to Filsø is situated on the eastern side of Porsmosevej/Kærgårdsvej. The address is Filsø Ellipsen, Kærgårdvej 14b, Henne. Here there is a new and disabled-friendly visitor centre with a large car park, a circular outlook jetty (called the Filsø Ellipse) that goes out into the lake, toilets and picnic facilities. From the visitor centre an embankment called Dæmningsvejen cuts across the lake. It is 3 km long and one can walk or cycle along it. From the road there is a fine view of both Søndersø and Mellemsø, and there is also access to the observation tower at Langodde with a view across Mellemsø. It is also possible to follow a path going north from the visitor centre to reach the observation tower at Storeholm with a view across to the islands of Gåseholm and Storeholm.
Further north is a small car park at Tejnebjerg on Porsmosevej. From here one can follow a path south to the bird observation tower at Storeholm and if desired, continue to the visitor centre. From the same car park one can also reach a path that follows the stream of Henne Mølleå to Kirkebyvad, where there is a pump station converted to an observation tower with a view across Mellemsø. One can continue even further eastwards along this path to reach the south-western corner of Fidde Sø, where there is a little outlook tower.