Heligoland

1 - The island of Helgoland lies in the North Sea, far from the mainland. It is about 60 to 70 kilometres from the coasts of Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony. The ferry from Cuxhaven takes about 3 hours, while even a fast catamaran takes 1 hour. 2 - Helgoland is made mainly of solid red sandstone. This rock formed many millions of years ago. The present-day island of Helgoland took shape only after the last Ice Age, which ended about 10,000 years ago. At the time, it was not yet an island in the sea but part of the so-called Doggerland. As the ice melted, sea levels rose by about 35 m. The North Sea flooded ever larger areas of land. 3 - Today, only the sandstone cliffs still rise above the water. But they too have been exposed to the force of the waves. This is especially clear at the rock known as "Lange Anna". This landmark of Helgoland is 47 metres high. It became separated from the main rock and is now protected from further damage by a wall. 4 - Helgoland consists of two islands. The main island covers one square kilometre. The smaller island is called Düne and covers 0.7 square kilometres. About 1,500 people live on Helgoland year-round. A supply ship comes over from the mainland every day, and there is a small airport on Düne.

5 - The main island is divided into Upper Land, Central Land and Lower Land. There is a small beach in the south, and the island rises to 61 meters in the north. You can get between Upper and Lower Land by elevator or by climbing three staircases with up to 260 steps.

6 - The smaller island of Düne is only 9 m high. It once had large cliffs of shell limestone and chalk, but these were quarried away. Until 1721, Düne was connected to the main island by a natural causeway. The causeway sank into the sea during a storm surge. 7 - The island’s cliffs provide nesting sites for many rare bird species. Northern gannets, guillemots, black-legged kittiwakes and northern fulmars, for example, breed nowhere else in Germany but Heligoland. Many migratory birds use the island as a stopover. More than 400 bird species have been recorded here. Below the cliffs lies the rocky tidal flat, a unique habitat. Rare species of algae thrive here, as do lobsters. The smaller island of Düne is home to a colony of grey seals, the second seal species in the North Sea besides harbour seals. 8 - Heligoland belonged to Great Britain from 1807 to 1890. During the Second World War, the island was often bombed, and eventually all its residents had to leave their homes. After the war ended, British soldiers occupied the island. They blew up all the military installations and used the island as a bombing range. On 1 March 1952, Heligoland was returned to the Federal Republic of Germany, and its residents were allowed to return. Since then, the island has belonged to the state of Schleswig-Holstein.

9 - In the past, the people of Heligoland made their living mainly from fishing or going to sea. Tourism has since become the island’s main source of income. Around 300,000 people visit each year to enjoy the fresh sea air, nature and red cliffs. However, they have to do without cars and bicycles. Cars are only permitted for the police and for transporting sick people. Cycling is only allowed with a special permit.