Editing Samsø (section)

==Geography==
The beach and village of {{ill|Ballen, Samsø|da|Ballen}} are popular with visitors. The island is served by a bus service which runs around the island, including the two ferry terminals in {{ill|Sælvig|da}} and Ballen. The peninsula of [[Helgenæs]] to the north is visible in clear weather.
Geographically, the island divides into three areas:
*the North Island
*the Stavns Fjord
*the South Island

The soil and geology of the northern part of the island is made up of sand and gravel deposited during the [[deglaciation]], while the southern part is made of both areas of [[boulder clay]] ({{langx|da|moræneler}}) and [[outwash plain]]s ({{langx|da|smeltevandsslette}}).<ref>{{Cite book|title=Istiden i det danske landskab|last=Houmark-nielsen|first=Michael|publisher=Lindhardt og Ringhof|year=2021|isbn=978-87-11-98479-6|location=209-210|language=Danish}}</ref> 
  
The North Island is divided from the South Island by the artificial Kanhave canal. Here a larger part of the countryside is uncultivated and it presents a wavy landscape of [[meadow]]s and small patches of woodland and [[heath]]. Like the rest of Samsø, the coastline is characterized by steep cliffs and stony beaches, with some sandy beaches in between suited for bathing. Issehoved is Samsø's northernmost point and presents what have been described as a miniature of [[Skagen]]s "[[Grenen]]". The small towns of [[Nordby, Samsø|Nordby]], Mårup and Langør are situated on the North Island. Just north of Nordby is the world's biggest permanent labyrinth named 'Labyrinten', founded in the year 2000. It comprise a {{convert|60,000|m2|0|adj=on|abbr=off}} patch of [[conifer]] woodland, grown on a previous [[christmas tree]] plantation.<ref>[http://samsolabyrinten.com/guinness.asp The Guinness certificate from 2000] Labyrinten's own homepage</ref> Northwest of Nordby, is the hill of Ballebjerg, Samsøs highest point, reaching 64 m. Near the village of Mårup is the harbour of Mårup Havn. In the summer months (17 June to 22 August) the old wooden freight-ship M/S Tunø, ferry passengers back and forth from here to the island of [[Tunø]] just west of Samsø, two days a week. Other two days of the week, the same boat is offering [[Pinniped|seal]]-[[Wildlife tourism|safari]]s from Langør at Stavns Fjord.<ref name="MS Tunø">[http://mstuno.dk/english.html M/S Tunø] The ferry's homepage</ref>

=== Stavns Fjord ===
The shallow lagoon {{ill|Stavns Fjord|da}} houses most of the smaller islands of [[Samsø municipality]]. The largest of them is {{ill|Hjortholm|da|Hjortholm (Onsbjerg Sogn)}} and most of the rest are small [[islets]], and have been named individually. The lagoon is separated from the sea of [[Kattegat]] by the 7&nbsp;km long [[sandbar]] of Besser Rev. It is possible to walk on the reef all the way to the tip at low tide (ebb), except when the birds are breeding. A group of small islands ({{ill|Kyholm|da}}, Lindholm, Rumpen, Vejrø) are located east of Stavns Fjord, in Kattegat.

=== South Island ===
The South Island is home to the seat of the mayor and Samsø's largest town [[Tranebjerg]], but there are many other [[hamlet (place)|hamlet]]s and villages (18 in all) spread across the countryside. The village of Ballen, lies on the east coast and is also home to the Samsø Energiakademi. Most of the land on the South Island is cultivated, but there are spots of nature like the forest {{ill|Brattingsborg Skov|da}} and the cliffs, shrubs and [[beach meadow]]s on the southcoast. Just south of the Kanhave canal is [[Samsø Airport]].