Hamburgisches Wattenmeer. 01/08/90; Hamburg; 11,700 ha; 53°53'N 008°17'E. Special Protection Area EC Directive; National Park. An area of the Wadden Sea consisting of sand, mudflats, islands and saltmarshes, situated near the mouth of the Elbe River. The nutrient-rich waters support high biomass production and are important for spawning fish. The site is of international importance for staging and wintering numerous species of waterbirds, and one of the most important breeding areas for several species of terns. Mammals include breeding populations of Halichoerus grypus and Phoca vitulina. Ramsar site no. 501. Most recent RIS information: 1992.

The "Wadden Sea" Transboundary Ramsar Site was declared in 2015 and it includes 13 Ramsar Sites in Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands: Site No. 356 in Denmark; Sites No. 501, 537, 80, 81, 82 in Germany; Sites No. 1252, 289, 2212, 2213, 2214, 2215, 2216 in the Netherlands.