Island of red rocks, Helgoland. Helgoland Island and its history. Harbor and resort houses

But did you know this about Germany?

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

Lost in the sea infinity, an island with a high rocky coast of bright red sandstone cannot but arouse admiration. Looking at this incredible creation of nature, it is hard to imagine that it is not located in distant exotic lands, but in the North Sea, which washes one of the coldest countries in Europe - Great Britain, Denmark, Norway. The landscape of this bizarre triangular piece of land, only 1 sq. km, is completely uncharacteristic of the continental coast of the North Sea. Vertical fifty-meter cliffs stretched like a motley wall along the sea line in the north, west and south-west, where, moreover, steep cliffs fall another 56 meters below the water level. Interestingly, the variegated sandstone of these rocks, dating from the Triassic geologic era, is older than the white chalk rock of its base, the rock from which the White Cliffs of Dover and similar German and Danish islands in the Baltic Sea are also formed.

On the north side stands a stunning 47-meter red sandstone cliff, which is called Long Anna (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 with sea water. Currently, we see only a remnant of that arch - a giant miraculous column, which has become a symbol of Helgoland and has become the highlight of this amazing place. Unfortunately, the elements continue to seriously affect 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 has been 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 wind erosion.

More than 6000 years ago, Helgoland was several times larger, and rivers flowed on its surface. Gradually, the deep sea began to destroy the rock of the island, advancing from the north and south, washing out the sheer cliffs.

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

In the XII-XIII 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.

It was not without the intervention of people - by the 18th century, numerous mining and stone mining led to the fact that the island broke up into two parts, connected to each other by the thinnest bridge. The strongest 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

Thanks 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 was turned into a powerful German naval base, with many underground tunnels, bunkers, shelters and mines. Today, traces of that time can be found 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 air defense structure. After the end of the Second World War, the British government decided to destroy the island, thus eliminating the possibility of a future military threat. In 1947, the strongest non-nuclear explosion in world history thundered on the island - Helgoland survived, but its appearance was significantly changed. So, many coasts collapsed, and a lowland formed in the south.

In 1950, the island again passed into the hands of Germany, the inhabitants evacuated during the war returned here, and calm times came for Heligoland. Travelers, artists, writers, intellectuals began to come here, which turned Helgoland into a famous resort place, which it remains to this day. And no wonder, 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, in the Lummenfelsen Wildlife Sanctuary, the smallest nature reserve in the world, where thousands of guillemots, auks, northern cormorants and gulls live, you can watch a truly amazing spectacle - the time comes for guillemot chicks to learn to fly and, having never spread their wings, they throw themselves down the cliff, but miraculously do not break.

What makes Helgoland even more special is its climate. Favorable proximity to the warm Gulf Stream and a small land area that does not hold back the cold create truly wonderful weather conditions. It 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 such as figs here. The two long, beautiful beaches of the neighboring island of Dune, with fine sand, are reminiscent of the Caribbean with palm trees leaning over the turquoise sea - a paradise for swimming.

Helgoland is an ideal choice not only for those who dream of immersing themselves in the world of nature, taking 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. Traveling here will leave an indelible impression, and you will certainly want to return to this wonderful island.

Helgoland GPS coordinates: 54.1825, 7.885278

Helgoland is one of the oldest European resorts. The first seaside resort appeared here back in 1826, when the islands were the property of the British crown. Many famous personalities of that time rested here. He was visited more than once by Heinrich Heine.

Sunbathing seals and walruses can be admired on the beach of Dune Island. And they have already adapted so much to the frequent visits of guests that they are not at all afraid of people.

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.

At present, the idea is being hatched to fill up the strait between the main islands. It is proposed to build several hotels on the territory reclaimed from the sea, increasing the number of hotel beds by almost three times, as well as to equip a marina and a more spacious and comfortable beach.

In a referendum held on June 26, 2011, the people of Helgoland voted against plans to expand the island. Mayor of Heligoland, Joerg Singer, who actively supported the artificial embankment project, said that the results of the referendum in no way negate plans for the further development of the island. According to him, now is the time to consider other opportunities to build up the island territory.

Previously, the majority of the population of the islands spoke the Helgolandic dialect of the Frisian language, but now it is almost supplanted by the German language. Despite this, Frisian is the official language.

Official website of the Helgoland archipelago, helgoland.de/en/welcome.html, will help you to get acquainted with the infrastructure of this German seaside resort in more detail.

Helgoland, Helgoland August 25th, 2008

Heligoland is a tiny piece of land in the North Sea, only a square kilometer. From here you can control the sea routes between England, Denmark, Germany and Holland. The more I learn about him, the more surprised I am. My friends and I went here for a day, but we will definitely be back, at least for a week.

Several historical facts at once, although you may know them. The island is mentioned by ancient authors, and its settlement took place in the Neolithic - then it was connected with the mainland by a seventy-kilometer spit. The rocks of which Helgoland is composed - coupled with the influence of man, of course - are the island's greatest misfortune.

Helgopalmen
Around 800, during the era of Christianization, Heligoland was about four times the size. Small rivers even flowed on it. By 1330 (large contour on the right) there were no more sources of water left on the island, except for rain and imported water. The sea gradually invaded in the south and north, taking over the limestone quarries. The fact is that it was in the center of the island that the most affordable building material was located. He was even taken to Hamburg, poor in stone. And the development reached the beginning of the 18th century to the point that parts of the island were connected only by a thin bridge. The Christmas storm of 1721 not only devastated, but also "broke" Helgoland 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 offering to fill up the strait formed three hundred years ago, build a passenger terminal for ocean-going ships and turn the island into a resort. Perhaps the decision will be made just about, 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 bought it for itself. The British did not see 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. Off the coast of the island, two of the largest naval battles of the First World War broke out. After Versailles, military installations and the base of the fleet were destroyed, but the Hitler project Hummerschere“The Crab Claw set out to turn the island into a modern fortress and a menace 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 stuffed with bunkers and mines. Submarine base was hidden under the coastal thickness.

All modern Heligoland is a living wound. Here and there you can find entrances to dilapidated tunnels, as under this coast. Even after the subsequent destruction, about 14 kilometers of underground utilities remained!

This, for example, is not a ledge 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. To do this, according to various sources, from 6 to 20 tons of explosives were laid in bunkers and mines. On April 18, 1947, the most powerful non-nuclear explosion in the history of mankind was carried out here. The island survived, although its topography changed significantly. A lowland formed in the southern part. Part of the coast collapsed. A couple of years after that, the British used Heligoland for military experiments and training bombing.

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

It is said that after this, many of the original inhabitants returned to Helgoland. Some of them are built quite in the spirit of Frisian architecture.

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

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

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

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

Another historic retreat. In the Middle Ages (someone will add, during the Little Ice Age), the warm current drove so many fish to the shores of Heligoland that up to three thousand fishermen went out into the pout 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 the cultivation of oysters. But by the end of the 19th century, the Prussian military base took away from the locals precisely the convenient areas with oyster farms. The prosperity of the inhabitants increased dramatically during the continental blockade of Napoleon - the island became the largest center of smuggling - but did not last long ... The unenviable history of the people. Disasters, catastrophes, wars.

Some of the current inhabitants are now engaged in navigation and maintenance of sea routes.

Therefore, if you need something - ask, they will surely show you.

About the nature of Helgoland one could talk a lot and pompously.

"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 in here an arch like the one in the photo on the left. In 1860, it could not withstand the pressure of the sea and collapsed, forming a separate rock, first called "The Monk". The destruction increased, and already in 1903, the filling of soil and the construction of a dam began below. This slowed down the erosion, but in our time "Anna" is under threat again. 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 a kindergarten.

Nests are made of algae and everything that floats in the sea. A lot of rags, scraps of nets.

On the eighteen square meters of the top of the "Long Anna" there is also a bird market and, by the way, for this reason, the smallest nature reserve in the world.

View to the northeast and the dune.

Below is also a lot of surprises.

The runway goes nowhere - everything that survived from the military airfield.

Pebbles on the shore, half a century after the war, are still mixed with run-in brick.

We wandered here with Vanya

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

Formerly, the majority of the island's population spoke Helgolandic Frisian, but this has now been largely superseded by German. Despite this, Frisian is the official language.

Story

The island has been inhabited since prehistoric times. 6500 years ago, the territory of the island was connected to the continental part of Europe. Around the 7th century, the Frisians settled on it - one of the small Germanic peoples. For a long time, the island was considered a haven for pirates who traded in the North Sea. In the XII-XIII 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 years of the Napoleonic wars. As a result of the sea blockade declared by the French emperor of Great Britain, Heligoland became a lively transshipment base for smugglers. The strategic position has affected. 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 be popular among poets, writers, artists and other representatives of the European intellectual elite. Heinrich Heine spoke enthusiastically about him, and Hoffmann von Fallersleben wrote the text here in 1841 "Songs of the Germans". It later became the anthem of the Weimar Republic. In 1933, only the first stanza became the anthem of the Third Reich (behind which the "Song of Horst Wessel" was performed, which was not officially considered part of the anthem; in 1945 it was banned by the Control Council). The third stanza has been the anthem of the reunified Germany since 1991.

Zanzibar Agreement

In 1890, the so-called Helgoland-Zanzibar Agreement was signed between the German Empire and Great Britain, by which the two powers settled 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 the military period began in the history of the island. Emperor Wilhelm II ordered to build a naval base here. In the First World War, two large naval battles (the Battle of Helgoland Bay) took place off its coast. During these years, the civilian population was evacuated from the island.

World War II

The Third Reich also planned to build a large base on the island, but they were only partially implemented. By this time, with the development of aviation in particular, the island's strategic importance had diminished. He was almost never raided. Only at the end of the war in April 1945, British aircraft 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 the history of mankind was carried out on the island. With it, 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 flew into the air - a total of 6,700 tons of explosives. In subsequent years, the British military used the already scarred and deserted island as a training ground for bombing exercises.

After the war

In the 1950s, the former inhabitants of Heligoland launched an international campaign demanding an end to the destruction of their home island. The recipients 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, setting up three flags on it - the Federal Republic, the international public European movement, as well as the historical flag of Helgoland. The bold action drew attention to the problem of the island and gave a 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-based construction businessman Arne Weber has been mulling over 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, as well as to equip a more spacious and comfortable beach. The total investment is estimated at one billion euros. After lengthy discussions, the local authorities decided to abandon the large-scale plans of the Hamburg businessman. Instead, Helgoland intends to modernize the port complex and the sea berth. In turn, Arne Weber called this position short-sighted and expressed the hope that the decision would be reviewed after the municipal elections this autumn. On the island, apparently, they simply do not want to change its appearance again. He had already suffered greatly at the hands of man. Cars and bicycles are prohibited on the island. In a referendum held on June 26, the inhabitants of Heligoland spoke out against the plans of the authorities to increase the territory of the island, Agence France-Presse reports. 1068 people took part in the voting (the turnout was 81.4 percent). 54.7 percent voted "against", 45.3 percent - "for". According to the plan, Helgoland and Dune Island, 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 and cruise liners were to appear, and a beach was also equipped. A grand 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 threatened with economic stagnation: the number of tourists is decreasing, many residents are leaving the island. Mayor of Heligoland, Joerg Singer, who actively supported the artificial embankment project, said that the results of the referendum in no way negate plans for the further development of the island. According to him, now is the time to consider other opportunities to build up 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

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, on the island there was a pagan sanctuary. Geographical names of the world: Toponymic dictionary. M... Geographic Encyclopedia

helgoland- (Heligoland), a small island in the North Sea. Initially inhabited by fishermen Frisians G. in 1714 1807. belonged to Denmark, then was captured by the English fleet, from 1815 official. British possession. In 1870, he went to Germany in exchange for ... ... The World History

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

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

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

- (Helgoland, in English Heligoland) a small rocky island in 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 the North. sea. Briton since 1814, colony. As part of Germany since 1890 (now Germany). From 1796, the Hamburg post office worked on the island. In 1866, created its own post office, cat. issue stamps in 1867 79. Since 1875 denominations ... ... Big philatelic dictionary

An edited and shortened version of this Travel Note was printed in GEO Traveler, #3, 2009, 126-131, under the title "Blown Up Earth"

most visited island

I heard the sonorous name of the unusual island “Helgoland” (Helgoland) for a long time, I also knew that it is located somewhere in the middle of the North Sea, in the Elbe River Delta, and that this is the most visited island for recreation in Germany (more than 500 thousand tourists annually, a record - 10 thousand tourists a day). But why this is so, I was to find out only last summer.

Let's hit the road

I chose the most convenient, although not the cheapest way to get to the German island of Buyana - on the ultra-fast ultra-modern catamaran "Halunder Jet", which sails daily from Hamburg in the summer, taking almost 600 passengers on board. Only 4 hours - and you are on the island.
One early August morning, having taken two days off, I was in the picturesque Hamburg harbor, admiring its water area from above from the U3 skytrain station, Landungsbrücke. Before the departure of the catamaran at 9:00 there was still half an hour, but its red silhouette at the pier was already surrounded by a large crowd of sleepy tourists with luggage. Germans love to visit Helgoland! Most often the whole family! Parents, children, grandparents, each dragging his backpack, camera or binoculars. Seeing a large group of professional wildlife photographers with wheeled suitcases with 20-30 kg lenses is normal. Couples in love, poets, philosophers, musicians, artists, politicians - whoever doesn’t travel, fortunately there is where to retire or have fun on the island. All this modern pleasure of moving on water cost me €75 round trip. Although it was possible to save a little, especially if you go with a family or a group; To do this, you first need to get to Cuxhaven on the Metronom regional train via voheendetiket (cheap weekend ticket, €37 for five people), and then transfer to the 76 meter MS Atlantis ship, which takes up to 1000 passengers on board. On my second visit to the island, I did just that - cheaper, although less comfortable. In the high summer, it's best to book your tickets ahead of time online at http://www.helgoline.de, although you can also buy at the pier if you're lucky. These days, Helgoland is accessible all year round if it doesn't get very stormy. You can get there in winter, again from Cuxhaven, either on the already familiar “MS Atlantis”, or a little smaller “MS Funny Girl”, both ships go to the island and back several times a week (ticket € 37, http://www.helgolandreisen .de).

island in the ocean

Travel time went by slowly. On the left and right sides floated endless green fields studded with giant white wind farms, slowly chewing on the moisture-laden air. I was looking forward to meeting the island of contrasts, about which I had heard and read so much. I remembered some details from his past and present. Helgoland has an amazing history. It is the most extreme flesh of the German land in the West. But it was not always German: it belonged to the Danish princes, then to the English. As a seaside resort, it was the Germans who chose it. Heinrich Heine rested here, and Hoffmann von Fallersleben wrote the “Song of the Germans” to the music of Joseph Haydn on Helgoland - it became the German anthem. In 1890, the British gave the island to Germany, exchanging it for Zanzibar, which at that time was a German colony. If you look even further into the history of the island, then once, when men wore bearskins and women cooked on fire, in the last Ice Age, Helgoland was not an island at all - but part of the mainland. Today it is separated from the mainland by 50-70 km of cold waters of the North Sea. No one knows how this small archipelago arose in the middle of the deep sea with blood-red cliffs 20-story high, similar to the American Grand Canyon, which have no analogues in these latitudes, no one knows. Helgoland, which can be walked around the perimeter in an hour and a half or two, has an area of ​​\u200b\u200bno more than 1 sq. km and a length of about 2 km, in fact, it consists of two islands Hauptinsel ("hauptinsel", the main island, Helgoland proper) and Düne ("Dune" , Dune Island) - which is smaller than the first one and about 15 minutes by boat from it. The archipelago is part of the federal state of Germany - Schleswig-Holstein, but is not included in the customs and tax territory of the EU, so all shopping on the island is duty free. The population of the island is approximately 1650 people and is mainly engaged in tourism, fishing and piloting ships in the local waters. Previously, most of the islanders spoke the Helgolandic Frisian dialect, but now it has almost been replaced by German. Frisian is the closest language to Old English. English is also in use.

Big Bang

“Halunder Jet” dropped its anchor on the island exactly on schedule, at 12:45, in German “Sehr Puntlich”. The island met us with a viscous fog, which, however, quickly dissipated, revealing the colorful Oberland. The fact is that Nauptinsel is divided into three main parts: Oberland (Oberland), the upper land, 50-60 m high, is connected to the lower land of Unterland (Unterland), a long staircase and an elevator, and Mittelland (Mittelland), the middle land, earlier she wasn't there. Once the entire Oberland was flat as a sea surface and potatoes and beets were grown on it, today it is full of mounds, depressions and craters, like the skin of an old seal - the result of the British bombing of the island during World War II. After the war, they did not stop bombing Helgoland; there was a military testing ground for bombs, mines and torpedoes. April 18, 1947 - was the worst day in the history of the island. On this day, the British produced the most powerful non-nuclear explosion in the history of mankind, "Big Ben" is called (Big Bang - Big Bang), blowing up in the tunnels and catacombs of the southern part of the island the largest amount of explosives at the same time in the entire history of the world, something about 6.8 kilotons or 3.2 kilotons of TNT; The "Baby" dropped on Hiroshima had a capacity of about 13 kilotons, the Nagasaki "Fat Man" - 21. They say the explosion was so powerful that it was heard even on the mainland, and the earth shook like a seven-point earthquake, a column of smoke rose into the air for 3 km. After the explosion, a hollow was formed with a radius of about 70 meters, 70 thousand cubic meters of earth disappeared forever. The explosion formed a new land - Mittelland, now there is a clinic of Paracelsus with a red cross on the roof. Just not far from Mittelland, our superjet moored.

If you happen to be in Hamburg and you have a free day, we will give you great advice on how to make it unforgettable. Actually, we are not talking about Hamburg itself, but about the island of Helgoland, an unpretentious piece of land 150 km from the city, which is unfairly ignored by many tourists. But in vain. This tiny idyllic island has a lot to offer travelers of all stripes.

Some facts

So, Helgoland is a piece of land with an area of ​​​​about 1 sq. km, where a little more than 1000 islanders live. The first settlements date back to about the 7th century - it was then that the Frisians, one of the small Germanic peoples, settled here. The original inhabitants of Heligoland are their descendants and still speak the Frisian dialect.

Strictly speaking, calling Helgoland an island is not entirely correct. At the beginning of the 18th century, a powerful storm swept across the North Sea, breaking off a piece of land from the island, which became a “close neighbor” of Heligoland and was named Dune.

Geographically, as well as from the point of view of world law, the location of the island can hardly be described as "open sea". Nevertheless, 70 km from the mainland is a considerable distance, due to which Heligoland is often referred to as "the only German island on the high seas." It is also the extreme point of the German land of Schleswig-Holstein and all of Germany.

For centuries, steep coastal cliffs made of unusually colorful sandstone and unique natural landscapes, along with a mild maritime climate, have attracted poets, writers and artists from all over Europe. No wonder, because on the island, surrounded on all sides only by the endless North Sea, it seems as if time has stopped. It was in this enchanting detachment that the "Song of the Germans" was written, which later became the official anthem of Germany.

Why does Helgoland deserve special attention?

Heligoland and neighboring Dune are home to amazing mammals of their kind - seals (Germ. Robbe). They are the main reason for the popularity of the tiny archipelago. Travel brochures and brochures are literally littered with photographs of these cute creatures. Do not regret 5 euros for a ticket and go to the neighboring Dune on a small boat. A bearded and stately captain, such a typical northerner, will take you to a neighboring island in a matter of minutes.

Seals are the main reason for the popularity of this amazing tiny archipelago.

Unlike Heligoland itself, where seals only visit in a few companies, on the Dune they feel like full-fledged and permanent residents. Stepping onto one of the beaches untouched by man, you will be amazed at what you see: dozens of clumsy creatures lazily sunbathing on the sand, now and then making melodic sounds. Yes, nature has not deprived the pinnipeds of vocal abilities.

The "owners of the beach" have long adapted to frequent guests and even allow themselves to be photographed. However, don't get too close to them, as you might accidentally scare some of them, and besides, you risk angering the few locals. We recommend taking a selfie with a seal from a distance of 10 meters.

Are you surprised who Anna is? On the very edge of the island, on its northern side, there is a symbol and at the same time a visiting card of Helgoland - Long Anna Rock (German: Long Anna). Lange Anna).

The 47-meter symbol of the island, resembling a giant tooth, has become home to many seabirds

The 47-meter symbol of the island, which looks like a giant tooth, has become home to many species of sea birds. The birds have inhabited literally every centimeter of the sandy cliff, despite the fact that the neighboring rocks remain almost untouched. Thanks to this, an endless concert of bird noise is heard near the Long Anna.

It is noteworthy that the rock got its name in honor of a long-legged waitress named Anna, who served on the island more than a hundred years ago. Well, let's not judge strictly German humor.

On your way to the rock, you will pass the Oberland hill, which offers a panorama of the long sandy beach, as well as the neighboring islet of Dune. Thus, before leaving, you can once again remember the meeting with charming pinnipeds, which you will hardly be able to forget.

Surfing

An interesting fact is that Heligoland is practically the only place in Germany where offshore winds blow. This makes the island very attractive for surfing. However, keep in mind that the water off the coast of the island rarely warms up above 18 degrees, and the air temperature in the hottest months usually does not exceed +25. The best time to surf is during strong northeast or east winds.

Purchases

A pleasant surprise for you may be the opportunity to make an unusual shopping on the island. The thing is that Heligoland has a special tax and customs status in the European Union, and trade here is not subject to special duties.

Heligoland has a special tax and customs status, and trade here is not subject to duties.

The entire territory of the island is a duty free zone! Wherever you go, duty-free shops will treacherously lie in wait for you everywhere. Of course, there are no branded boutiques, sales and chains of trendy restaurants. But there are plenty of shops where you can buy alcohol, cigarettes, perfumes, cosmetics and other goods at very competitive prices. The prices will pleasantly surprise you.

It is worth noting that some stores offer very rare and even unique products that you cannot find on the mainland, such as exclusive alcohol or souvenirs. It is here that thrifty Germans living nearby often go shopping.

Speaking of souvenirs: the most common is, of course, the seal. Here you will find magnets, posters, calendars, figurines made of wood and porcelain, soft toys and many other amenities to remember the meeting with these kind people who so kindly agreed to receive you in their domain.

delicacies

Fans of tasty and unusual food will satisfy their appetites on the Hummerbuden embankment. It is here, near the port, among the old colorful wooden shopping arcades that you can taste an exquisite delicacy - freshly caught Helgoland lobster. Also on the island you should try lobster soup, meat schnitzels and various local cheeses. The only drawback: slightly overpriced due to the remoteness of the island from the mainland. But we guarantee that the uniqueness of the local cuisine will more than cover it.

Health tourism

On Helgoland there is a ban on the movement of any vehicles and even bicycles, which means that the air is not spoiled by exhaust gases. The only permitted method of transportation is ... a scooter. However, the tiny island is not difficult to get around on foot.

The good news for allergy sufferers is that there are practically no shrubs and trees on Helgoland, and thanks to the winds that blow on the island from all sides, the air is free from pollen. These factors, combined with the mild climate, make it popular as a center for health tourism.

Availability

Getting to the ends of the earth is not so difficult. Modern comfortable catamarans leave for Heligoland daily from March to October from the port of Hamburg, making a stop in the city of Cuxhaven along the way. Travel time is a little less than four hours. You can buy tickets directly on the embankment (underground station Landungsbrucken), by finding the ticket offices of the Helgoline carrier company, or by booking on the website www.helgoline.com. A round trip ticket in second class costs 69 euros. If you have arrived in Hamburg and are planning to stay there for several days, we advise you to purchase a Hamburg Card. In addition to the right to free travel on public transport and discounts to city museums, the card will help you save about 10 euros on the purchase of ferry tickets.

Tip: seasickness can set in on the high seas, and so that you don’t get sick, take precautions in advance. You can always go out on the open deck and breathe in the fresh sea air, and in case you get seasick, turn to the crew members for help.

Despite the location of the island in the North Sea, there is a mild climate and almost no frost.

As for the weather, it is best to go during the warm season. However, despite the location of the island in the North Sea, a generally mild climate reigns here. The remoteness from the mainland explains the warm air even in winter - there are practically no frosts here. But keep in mind, the openness of the island also means openness to the winds. If your arrival to the island will be in the cold season, it is better to stock up on a windbreaker.

The enchanting atmosphere, originality and peculiar aloofness of Heligoland will forever be engraved in the memory and certainly will not leave indifferent even the most demanding adventure lover. And no matter how much we would like him to remain an unknown mass tourist, it is still more painful for us to keep silent about him. Go to Heligoland and share your impressions with us. Well, as the ancient Frisians would say: Welkoam iip Lunn!, that is, “Welcome to the island!”.