Red rock island Helgoland. The island of Heligoland in the North Sea, or how I lost land for the first time in my life

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Heligoland(or Helgoland, German Helgoland listen)) - an archipelago (until 1720 - a single island) in the North Sea, on the territory of Germany. It is part of the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein, but is not part of the customs and tax territory of the European Union. The population of the village of the same name is 1267 people.

Previously, the majority of the island's population spoke the Helgolandic dialect of the Frisian language, but it has now been practically replaced by the German language. Despite this, Frisian is the official language.

Story

The island has been inhabited since prehistoric times. 6,500 years ago the island's territory was connected to the European mainland. Around the 7th century, the Frisians, one of the small Germanic peoples, settled there. For a long time, the island was considered a refuge for pirates who traded in the North Sea. In the 12th and 13th centuries, Heligoland belonged to Denmark, and then went to the German Duchy of Schleswig, which, in turn, after a few centuries itself came under the control of the Danish crown. In 1720, as a result of a storm, the island split into two. Golden times for the island came during the Napoleonic wars. As a result of the naval blockade declared by the French Emperor of Great Britain, Heligoland became a busy transit base for smugglers. The strategic position had an impact. In 1807 it was occupied by British troops, after which it became part of Great Britain. In 1826, a seaside resort was established here. Soon the island began to enjoy popularity among poets, writers, artists and other representatives of the European intellectual elite. Heinrich Heine spoke enthusiastically about it, and Hoffmann von Fallersleben wrote the text of “Song of the Germans” here in 1841. It later became the anthem of the Weimar Republic. In 1933, only the first stanza became the anthem of the Third Reich (followed by the “Horst Wessel Song”, which was not officially considered part of the anthem; banned by the Control Council in 1945). The third stanza has been the anthem of the reunified Germany since 1991.

Zanzibar Agreement

In 1890, the so-called Heligoland-Zanzibar Agreement was signed between the German Empire and Great Britain, through which the two powers regulated their interests in Africa. According to the treaty, the island in the North Sea went to Germany as compensation for the colonial territories transferred to the British. Soon a war period began in the history of the island. Emperor Wilhelm II ordered the establishment of a naval base here. During the First World War, two large naval battles took place off its shores (the Battle of Heligoland Bight). During these years, the civilian population was evacuated from the island.

World War II

The Third Reich also prepared plans to build a large base on the island, but they were only partially implemented. By this time, with the development, in particular, of aviation, the strategic importance of the island had diminished. It was almost never raided. Only at the end of the war in April 1945, British planes dropped about seven thousand bombs on Heligoland in less than two hours. The island became completely uninhabitable.

In 1947, the most powerful non-nuclear explosion in human history was carried out on the island. With its help, the British military destroyed bunkers and other structures built in the Third Reich for German submarines. At the same time, 4,000 torpedo warheads, 9,000 underwater bombs, 91,000 grenades of various calibers - a total of 6,700 tons of explosives - were launched into the air. In subsequent years, the British military used the already disfigured and deserted island as a training ground for bombing.

After the war

In the 1950s, former residents of Heligoland launched an international campaign to demand an end to the destruction of their home island. The addressees of the appeals were the new government of Germany, the UN, the British Parliament and even the Pope. At the end of 1950, a group of peaceful activists entered the island, planting three flags on it - the Federal Republic, the international public European movement, and the historical flag of Heligoland. The bold action drew attention to the problem of the island and gave new impetus to the discussion of its fate. Soon the Bundestag unanimously supported a resolution demanding the return of this territory to Germany, which was done in March 1952. A few years later the island was rebuilt and it began its new resort and tourist life.

Modernity

Hamburg construction businessman Arne Weber has been toying with the idea of filling in the strait between the main island and the dune for several years. On the territory reclaimed from the North Sea, the businessman proposes to build several hotels, increasing the number of hotel beds by almost three times, and also to equip a more spacious and comfortable beach. The total investment is estimated at one billion euros. After lengthy discussions, local authorities decided to abandon the large-scale plans of the Hamburg entrepreneur. Instead, they intend to modernize the port complex and sea pier in Heligoland. In turn, Arne Weber called this position short-sighted and expressed hope that the decision will be reviewed after the municipal elections this fall. On the island, apparently, they simply don’t want to change its appearance again. He has already suffered greatly at the hands of man. Cars and bicycles are prohibited on the island. Residents of Heligoland, at a referendum held on June 26, spoke out against the authorities’ plans to increase the territory of the island, reports Agence France-Presse. 1,068 people took part in the voting (the turnout was 81.4 percent). 54.7 percent voted “against”, 45.3 percent voted “for”. In accordance with the plan, Heligoland and the island of Dune, located a kilometer away, were supposed to be connected by an artificial embankment with a total area of 100 hectares (about 30 football fields), on which hotels, marinas for yachts and cruise ships were to appear, and a beach was also equipped. A grandiose project to develop tourism infrastructure was designed to improve the overall economic situation of the island. As AFP notes, Heligoland, located 40 kilometers from the German coast in the North Sea, is facing economic stagnation: the number of tourists is decreasing, many residents are leaving the island. The burgomaster of Helgoland, Joerg Singer, who actively supported the artificial embankment project, said that the results of the referendum in no way cancel out plans for the further development of the island. According to him, now is the time to consider other possibilities for expanding the island territory.

Photos

Born here

James Crews - children's writer

In culture

British trip-hop group Massive Attack released an album called Heligoland in 2010.

Notes

Links

Cities and towns of the Pinneberg region (Schleswig-Holstein) - Kreis Pinneberg

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

See what "Helgoland" is in other dictionaries:

Helgoland, an island in the North Sea; Germany. German Helgoland (Helgoland) sacred land from other top. German heilag holy, sacred, land land, there was a pagan sanctuary on the island. Geographical names of the world: Toponymic dictionary. M... Geographical encyclopedia

Heligoland- (Heligoland), a small island in the North Sea. Originally inhabited by Frisian fishermen, Germany in 1714-1807. belonged to Denmark, then was captured by the English fleet, from 1815 official. possession of Great Britain. In 1870 it went to Germany in exchange for... ... The World History

HELIGOLAND- (Helgoland), a rocky island in the German Sea, 70 km from the mouth of the Elbe, belonging to Germany. It has the shape of a triangle with steep edges, a height of up to 68 m, an area of 0.59 sq. km. From the south V. the sides on the platform and on the top of the island are located... ... Great Medical Encyclopedia

- (Helgoland), an island in the North Sea, territory of Germany. Area 0.9 km2. Height up to 56 m. * * * HELGOLAND HELGOLAND (Helgoland), an island in the Northern Cape, territory of Germany. Area 0.9 km2. Height up to 56 m... encyclopedic Dictionary

- (Helgoland) an island in the North Sea as part of the Federal Republic of Germany (Schleswig Holstein). Area 0.9 km2. Population 2.9 thousand people. (1968). Resort. Populated by Frisians, Germany belonged to the Duchy of Schleswig from 1402 and to Denmark from 1714. In 1807 the island was captured... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

- (Helgoland, in English Heligoland) a small rocky island of the German Sea, belonging to Germany; lies 58 km northwest of Cuxhaven and 56 km from the nearest point of Schleswig and dominates the mouths of the Elbe, Weser and Eider. Island… … Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron

- (Helgoland, Heligoland) about in in North. sea. Since 1814 British colony. Part of Germany since 1890 (now Germany). Since 1796, a Hamburg post office operated on the island. In 1866, its own post office and service was created. issue stamps in 1867 79. Since 1875 denominations ... ... Large philatelic dictionary

German island Heligoland December 7th, 2013

But did you know this about Germany?

Helgoland (Helgoland-German or Heligoland-English), in Russian-language literature for some reason always called Heligoland– miniature German archipelago in Northern sea. It is located 46 kilometers from mainland Germany and consists of two islands: an inhabited main island with a triangular shape Hauptinsel(with an area of about 1 sq. km) and located to the west of it, a much lower Dune(0.7 sq. km), consisting almost entirely of sandy beaches and having as a permanent population only the staff of several tourist campsites and a small airfield.

An island lost in the infinity of the sea with a high rocky shore made of bright red sandstone cannot but arouse admiration. Looking at this incredible creation of nature, it is difficult to imagine that it is located not in distant exotic lands, but in the North Sea, which washes some of the coldest countries in Europe - Great Britain, Denmark, Norway. The landscape of this bizarre triangular piece of land, only 1 square meter long. km, is completely uncharacteristic of the continental coast of the North Sea. Vertical fifty-meter cliffs stretch out like a motley wall along the sea line in the north, west and southwest, where, in addition, steep cliffs drop another 56 meters below the water level. Interestingly, the mottled sandstone of these cliffs, dating from the Triassic geological era, is older than the White Chalk rock of its base, the rock that also formed the White Cliffs of Dover and similar German and Danish islands in the Baltic Sea.

Currently, we see only the remnant of that arch - a giant miraculous column, which turned into a symbol of Helgoland and became the highlight of this amazing place. Unfortunately, the elements continue to seriously impact the magnificent natural monument, and the threat of its destruction is growing every day.

The history of the island is extremely interesting. Since prehistoric times, it was inhabited by people who came here along a seventy-kilometer spit that once connected the island with the mainland and subsequently went under water due to the effects of wind erosion.

More than 6,000 years ago, Helgoland was several times larger, and rivers flowed across its surface. Gradually, the depths of the sea began to destroy the rock of the island, advancing from the north and south, washing away the steep cliffs.

Around the 7th century, the Frisians, one of the small Germanic peoples, settled there. For a long time, the island was considered a refuge for pirates who traded in the North Sea.

In the 12th-13th centuries, Heligoland belonged to Denmark, and then went to the German Duchy of Schleswig, which, in turn, after a few centuries itself came under the control of the Danish crown.

Not without human intervention - by the 18th century, numerous mining and stone extraction led to the fact that the island split into two parts, connected to each other by a thin bridge. A severe storm in the winter of 1721 destroyed it, finally dividing Helgoland into two parts. Today, a second small island called Dune is located just 1.5 km from Helgoland and part of it serves as an airstrip.

1890

After the end of the Second World War, the British government decided to destroy the island, thereby eliminating the possibility of a future military threat. In 1947, the strongest non-nuclear explosion in world history occurred on the island - Helgoland survived, but its appearance was significantly changed. Thus, many banks collapsed, and a lowland formed in the south.

In 1950, the island returned to German hands, residents evacuated during the war returned, and calm times began for Heligoland. Travelers, artists, writers, and intellectuals began to come here, which turned Helgoland into a famous resort destination, which it remains to this day. And it is not surprising, because this charming island has something to offer tourists - numerous routes will take you through the most picturesque corners of the island, where you can see majestic rocks and cliffs, green meadows where cows and sheep graze, dunes, seals basking on the seashore .

At the beginning of June at the Lummenfelsen Wildlife Sanctuary, the smallest nature reserve in the world, home to thousands of guillemots, razorbills, northern cormorants and gulls, you will be able to witness a truly amazing spectacle - the time has come for chicks of guillemots to learn to fly and, having never yet spread their wings, They are thrown down the cliff, but miraculously do not break.

What makes Helgoland even more special is its climate. Advantageous proximity to the warm Gulf Stream and a small land area that does not retain the cold create truly excellent weather conditions. This is the sunniest and warmest place in Germany: even in winter the temperature does not drop below 10 °C, which makes it possible to grow heat-loving plants here, such as figs. Neighboring Dune islet's two long, fine sandy beaches are reminiscent of the Caribbean islands, with palm trees leaning over the turquoise sea - a paradise for swimming.

Helgoland is an ideal choice not only for those who want to plunge into the world of nature, take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, but also for lovers of a beautiful life: there is a yacht club, spa resorts, mini golf courses, outdoor swimming pools with sea water water, cozy cottages and duty-free shops. A trip here will leave an indelible impression, and you will certainly want to return to this wonderful island.

Helgoland GPS coordinates: 54.1825, 7.885278

Heligoland is one of the oldest European resorts. The first seaside resort appeared here back in 1826, when the islands were the possession of the British Crown. Many famous personalities of that time vacationed here. Heinrich Heine visited him more than once.

On the beach of Dune Island you can admire seals and walruses sunbathing. And they have already adapted so much to the frequent visits of guests that they are not afraid of people at all.

But only those tourists who are not afraid of cold water will be able to swim on the islands. After all, even on the hottest days, the water temperature does not exceed 20 °C.

Currently, the idea is being hatched to fill up the strait between the main islands. On the territory reclaimed from the sea, it is proposed to build several hotels, increasing the number of hotel beds almost threefold, as well as equip a marina and a more spacious and comfortable beach.

Residents of Heligoland, at a referendum held on June 26, 2011, spoke out against plans to increase the territory of the island. The burgomaster of Helgoland, Joerg Singer, who actively supported the artificial embankment project, said that the results of the referendum in no way cancel out plans for the further development of the island. According to him, now is the time to consider other possibilities for expanding the island territory.

Previously, the majority of the islands' population spoke the Helgolandic dialect of the Frisian language, but now it has been practically replaced by the German language. Despite this, Frisian is the official language.

Official website of the Heligoland archipelago, helgoland.de/en/welcome.html, will help you become more familiar with the infrastructure of this German seaside resort.

Helgoland, Helgoland August 25th, 2008

Heligoland is a tiny, just a square kilometer, piece of land in the North Sea. From here you can control the sea routes between England, Denmark, Germany and Holland. The more I learn about him, the greater my surprise. My friends and I came here for a day, but we will definitely return, at least for a week.

Several historical facts at once, although you may already know them. The island is mentioned by ancient authors, and its settlement occurred in the Neolithic - then it was connected to the mainland by a seventy-kilometer spit. The rocks that make up Heligoland - coupled with human influence, of course - are the island's biggest problem.

Helgopalmen
Around 800, during the era of Christianization, Heligoland was approximately four times larger. Small rivers even flowed on it. By 1330 (large outline on the right), there were no longer any sources of water left on the island except rainwater and imported water. The sea gradually invaded the south and north, taking over the limestone quarries. The fact is that it was in the center of the island that the most accessible building material was located. He was even taken to stone-poor Hamburg. And development reached the point at the beginning of the 18th century that only a thin bridge connected the parts of the island. The Christmas storm of 1721 not only devastated, but also “broke” Heligoland into two parts.

dpa
The top photo shows the current state of Heligoland. The lower computer model, looking ahead, is a rather controversial (and expensive) project to save the island. Private investors are proposing to fill up the strait that formed three hundred years ago, build a passenger terminal for ocean-going ships and turn the island into a resort. Perhaps a decision will be made soon, and we are one of the last guests of Heligoland to see it like this - after natural disasters and destruction by people. Now only small ships can approach here, and the runway for single-engine aircraft is not even on the main landmass, but on a “dune” cut off by water, as the locals call it.

The island belonged to Denmark, then, after the Napoleonic wars, to England. In 1890, as a result of the settlement of colonial disputes in Africa, Germany acquired it for itself. The British did not recognize the military significance of Heligoland, and the Germans were able to create a serious naval base here by the beginning of the World War. From 1914 to 1918 the local population - about three thousand people - was completely evacuated. Two of the largest naval battles of the First World War took place off the coast of the island. After Versailles, military installations and the naval base were destroyed, but Hitler’s project Hummerschere-- "The Claw of the Crab" set out to transform the island into a modern fortress and a threat to England.

You can imagine the scale if you compare my photographs with postcards from a hundred years ago. Before the Second World War, the island, like an anthill, was crammed with bunkers and mines. A submarine base was hidden under the coastal layer.

The whole of modern Heligoland is a living wound. Here and there you can find entrances to dilapidated tunnels, like those under this shore. Even after the subsequent destruction, about 14 kilometers of underground communications remained!

This, for example, is not a protrusion of rock, but twisted reinforced concrete.

By the end of the war, Heligoland was a lunar landscape. But this was not enough. The British government decided to prevent future military threats. And completely wipe the island off the face of the earth. For this purpose, according to various sources, from 6 to 20 tons of explosives were placed in bunkers and mines. On April 18, 1947, the most powerful non-nuclear explosion in human history took place here. The island survived, although its topography changed significantly. A lowland formed in the southern part. Part of the banks collapsed. For a couple of years after this, the British used Heligoland for military experiments and training bombing.

In 1950, two German students brought the German flag to the island. The Bundestag carefully secured the return of the island to Germany two years later, while simultaneously pledging not to use it for military purposes.

It is said that after this many of the original inhabitants returned to Heligoland. Some things were built quite in the spirit of Frisian architecture.

But most of it is the usual architecture of provincial Germany. Although with a twist.

The main source of local income is, of course, tourism.

I can testify that guests here feel comfortable and inexpensive. In addition, due to its position on the high seas, the island (it is not formally part of the European Union!) is a duty-free trade zone.

It's hard not to notice. By the way, European tourists set off on their return journey laden with alcohol and cigarettes... Surprisingly, control upon departure is quite symbolic.

Another historical digression. In the Middle Ages (some might add, during the Little Ice Age), warm currents brought so many fish to the shores of Heligoland that up to three thousand fishermen went out into the river at the same time! By the beginning of the New Age, fish had practically disappeared, and the population was forced to leave or look for other sources of income. One of them was oyster farming. But by the end of the 19th century, the Prussian military base took away convenient areas with oyster farms from the locals. The welfare of the inhabitants increased sharply during Napoleon's continental blockade - the island became the largest center of smuggling - but did not last long... The unenviable history of the people. Disasters, disasters, wars.

Some of the current residents are now busy with navigation and maintenance of sea routes.

Therefore, if you need somewhere, ask, they will probably show you.

One could talk a lot and pompously about the nature of Heligoland.

"Long Anna" is one of the most famous natural monuments in Europe. The height of the rock is 47 meters.

wikipedia
In prehistoric times, the sea washed into an arch like the one on the left here. In 1860, it could not withstand the pressure of the sea and collapsed, forming a separate rock, first nicknamed “Monk”. The destruction increased, and already in 1903, the filling of soil and the construction of a dam began below. This slowed the erosion, but in modern times "Anna" is again under threat. The cracks are growing. The rock can, in fact, collapse at any moment.

Oh yes, Anna was the name of a lanky waitress in a nearby cafe on the eve of the First World War. Nothing more is known about the girl.

The rocks of the island are a real paradise for birds.

In the twentieth century, gannets settled here. Relatives of pelicans, by the way.

Here they have both love and kindergarten.

The nests are made of algae and everything that floats in the sea. Lots of rags and snatches of nets.

At eighteen square meters at the top of “Long Anna” there is also a bird colony and, by the way, for this reason, the smallest nature reserve in the world.

View to the northeast and the dune.

There's also a lot of amazing stuff down there.

The runway is going nowhere - all that remained of the military airfield.

The pebbles on the shore, half a century after the war, are still mixed with rolled bricks.

We wandered here with Vanya

At the end of the Second World War, the British Army had a huge surplus of ammunition and explosives that needed to be disposed of. It was proposed to use surplus munitions for seismic experiments, setting up controlled explosions to generate seismic waves. In this way, it was planned to simulate small earthquakes. It was impractical and dangerous to perform such experiments in England due to the greatly increased risks. Thus, the British turned to defeated Germany, and specifically to the island of Heligoland.

The British had just ended the biggest war in human history, but explosives and aggression still lingered in excess. In July 1946, an ammunition depot near the city of Soltau in northern Germany was blown up. Seismic waves from the explosion were observed at distances of up to 50 km from the epicenter. But the British needed something more. Thus, they began to prepare for the most powerful non-nuclear explosion in the world, which eventually became known as the “British Strike.” The target was a small archipelago called Heligoland off the German coastline.

Heligoland is a small archipelago located approximately 46 kilometers from the German coastline in the North Sea. It consists of two islands - the inhabited main island with an area of one square kilometer and an uninhabited small island nearby called "Dune", which also has an airstrip.

Due to its strategic location, Heligoland has its own fascinating military history. Originally occupied by Frisian shepherds and fishermen, the island came under the control of the Duke of Schleswig-Holstein in 1402, and then became a Danish possession in 1714. During the Napoleonic Wars of 1807, the British captured the island, and in 1890 Heligoland was given to Germany in exchange for Zanzibar and other African territories.

The Germans evacuated the island's civilian population and turned it into a major naval base, with an extensive harbor, shipyard, underground fortifications and coastal batteries. The famous Battle of Heligoland Bight took place here. When World War I ended, the islanders returned and the island became a popular tourist resort for the German upper class. During the Nazi era, the island again became a naval stronghold and suffered severe Allied bombing towards the end of World War II.

With the defeat of Germany, the population was evacuated again. The British decided to destroy the remaining fortifications, underground bunkers and submarine base in one powerful explosion, while simultaneously recording seismic sensor readings for science. On April 18, 1947, the Royal Navy detonated 6,700 tons of explosives, sending a black atomic mushroom several kilometers into the sky. People on the mainland 60 kilometers away were asked to open their windows to avoid the implosion, and seismic waves were recorded as far away as Sicily. The Guinness Book of World Records lists the Heligoland explosion as the largest non-nuclear explosion in history.

The detonation was equivalent in power to one-third of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. The British expected the island to be completely destroyed, but it survived, changed forever. A huge crater formed at the southern tip of Heligoland, which today is a famous tourist attraction.

The RAF continued to use the island as a training ground until it was returned to West Germany on 1 March 1952. The town, harbor and resort on Dune Island were rebuilt and Heligoland became a tourist destination again. Heligoland is in the top 10 list

But did you know this about Germany?

Helgoland (Helgoland-German or Heligoland-English), in Russian-language literature for some reason always called Heligoland- miniature German archipelago in Northern sea. It is located 46 kilometers from mainland Germany and consists of two islands: an inhabited main island with a triangular shape Hauptinsel(with an area of about 1 sq. km) and located to the west of it, a much lower Dune(0.7 sq. km), consisting almost entirely of sandy beaches and having as a permanent population only the staff of several tourist campsites and a small airfield.

An island lost in the infinity of the sea with a high rocky shore made of bright red sandstone cannot but arouse admiration. Looking at this incredible creation of nature, it is difficult to imagine that it is not located in distant exotic lands, but in the North Sea, which washes some of the coldest countries in Europe - Great Britain, Denmark, Norway. The landscape of this bizarre triangular piece of land, only 1 square meter long. km, is completely uncharacteristic of the continental coast of the North Sea. Vertical fifty-meter cliffs stretch out like a motley wall along the sea line in the north, west and southwest, where, in addition, steep cliffs drop another 56 meters below the water level. Interestingly, the mottled sandstone of these cliffs, dating from the Triassic geological era, is older than the White Chalk rock of its base, the rock that also formed the White Cliffs of Dover and similar German and Danish islands in the Baltic Sea.

Standing apart on the north side is a stunning 47-metre red sandstone cliff called Lange Anna. It is known that at the beginning of the First World War this was the name of a tall waitress from a nearby cafe, but why the cliff was named after her remains a mystery. Thousands of years ago, “Long Anna” was part of the island, then, under the influence of water erosion, an arch was formed, washed by sea water. Currently, we see only the remnant of that arch - a giant miraculous column, which turned into a symbol of Helgoland and became the highlight of this amazing place. Unfortunately, the elements continue to seriously impact the magnificent natural monument, and the threat of its destruction is growing every day.

Around the 7th century, the Frisians, one of the small Germanic peoples, settled there. For a long time, the island was considered a refuge for pirates who traded in the North Sea.

In the 12th-13th centuries, Heligoland belonged to Denmark, and then went to the German Duchy of Schleswig, which, in turn, after a few centuries itself came under the control of the Danish crown.

1890

Due to its advantageous geographical position, Helgoland has always played a prominent role during military operations, from the time of Napoleon to the world wars of the 20th century. By the beginning of the First World War, the island had been turned into a powerful German naval base, with many underground tunnels, bunkers, shelters and mines. Today you can find traces of that time everywhere - dilapidated underground passages, entrances carved into the rocks, bomb craters overgrown with grass, and the lighthouse at the northern end of the island was once an anti-aircraft defensive structure. After the end of the Second World War, the British government decided to destroy the island, thereby eliminating the possibility of a future military threat. In 1947, the strongest non-nuclear explosion in world history occurred on the island - Helgoland survived, but its appearance was significantly changed. Thus, many banks collapsed, and a lowland formed in the south.

In 1950, the island returned to German hands, residents evacuated during the war returned, and calm times began for Heligoland. Travelers, artists, writers, and intellectuals began to come here, which turned Helgoland into a famous resort destination, which it remains to this day. And it’s not surprising, because this charming island has something to offer tourists - numerous routes will take you through the most picturesque corners of the island, where you can see majestic rocks and cliffs, green meadows where cows and sheep graze, dunes, seals basking on the seashore .

At the beginning of June at the Lummenfelsen Wildlife Sanctuary, the smallest nature reserve in the world, home to thousands of guillemots, razorbills, northern cormorants and gulls, you will be able to witness a truly amazing spectacle - the time has come for chicks of guillemots to learn to fly and, having never spread their wings, They are thrown down the cliff, but miraculously do not break.

Helgoland is an ideal choice not only for those who want to plunge into the world of nature, take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, but also for lovers of a beautiful life: there is a yacht club, spa resorts, mini golf courses, outdoor swimming pools with sea water, cozy cottages and duty-free shops. A trip here will leave an indelible impression, and you will certainly want to return to this wonderful island.

Helgoland GPS coordinates: 54.1825, 7.885278

On the beach of Dune Island you can admire seals and walruses sunbathing. And they have already adapted so much to the frequent visits of guests that they are not afraid of people at all.

But only those tourists who are not afraid of cold water will be able to swim on the islands. After all, even on the hottest days, the water temperature does not exceed 20 °C.

Official website of the Heligoland archipelago, helgoland.de/en/welcome.html, will help you become more familiar with the infrastructure of this German seaside resort.