Heligoland red rock island interesting facts. We travel the world. The German island of Heligoland. Oberland Hill and the path along the coast along the cliff
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 from 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 civilian population of the island and turned it into the largest 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 tourist destination. Heligoland is in the top 10 list
Located 40 kilometers from the German coast. The population of the village of the same name is 1149 people (2010). The area of the islands of Helgoland and Dune is 1.7 km².
The islands are part of the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein, but are not part of the customs and tax territory of the European Union. In fact, the islands are a small offshore zone within the European Union.
Heligoland is one of the oldest European resorts. 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 mayor 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 further development islands. According to him, now is the time to consider other possibilities for expanding the island territory.
Language
Previously, the majority of the islands' population spoke the Helgolandic dialect of the Frisian language, but it has now been practically replaced German language. Despite this, Frisian is the official language.
Story
6,500 years ago, the island's territory was connected to the continental part of Europe.
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.
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.
In 1890, the so-called Heligoland-Zanzibar Agreement was signed between the German Empire and Great Britain, with the help of 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.
Soon a war period began in the history of the island. Emperor Wilhelm II ordered the establishment of a naval base here. First world war Two large naval battles took place off its shores. During these years, the civilian population was evacuated from the island.
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 decreased. 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 were launched into the air - a total of 6,700 tons of explosives. In subsequent years, the British military used the already disfigured and deserted island as a training ground for bombing.
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 - Federal Republic, the international social European movement, as well as 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.
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 Dune Island, located a kilometer away, were supposed to be connected by an artificial embankment with total area 100 hectares (about 30 football fields) on which hotels, marinas and cruise ships, and also equipped with a beach. Grandiose development project tourism infrastructure was intended 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 | ||
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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 world: Toponymic dictionary. M... Geographical encyclopedia
Heligoland- (Heligoland), 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. Ephron
- (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
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), almost entirely consisting 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 variegated sandstone of these rocks, dating back to the Triassic geological epoch, older than the white chalk rock of its base, the rock from which 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.
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
Thanks to its advantageous geographical location 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 lighthouse 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 place, as it remains to this day. And it’s not surprising, because this charming island has a lot 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.
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 beautiful weather. 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. The two long, magnificent beaches of the neighboring island of Dune with fine sand resemble 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 and take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, but also for lovers beautiful life: There is a yacht club, spa resorts, mini golf courses, outdoor saltwater pools, 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.
