The island of Helgoland

2 October 2015 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  7 minutes

Heligoland © Sioux

Heligoland © Sioux

Heligoland is a small German archipelago in the North Sea. Formerly Danish and British possessions, the islands (population 1,127) are located in the Heligoland Bight (part of the German Bight) in the south-eastern corner of the North Sea. They are the only German islands not in the immediate vicinity of the mainland and are approximately three hours sailing time from Cuxhaven at the mouth of the River Elbe. In addition to German, the local population, who are ethnic Frisians, speak the Heligolandic dialect of the North Frisian language called Halunder. Heligoland was formerly called Heyligeland, or “holy land,” possibly due to the island’s long association with the god Forseti.   read more…

Theme Week North Frisian Islands – Sylt

17 August 2013 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  7 minutes

Robby Naish during the Surf World Cup Sylt © Hoch Zwei

Robby Naish during the Surf World Cup Sylt © Hoch Zwei

Sylt is the northernmost island of Germany, known for its tourist resorts, notably Westerland, Kampen and Wenningstedt-Braderup, as well as for its 40 km long sandy beach. It is frequently covered by the media in connection with its exposed situation in the North Sea and its ongoing loss of land during storm tides. Since 1927, Sylt has been connected to the mainland by the Hindenburgdamm causeway. In latter years, it has been a resort for the German jet set and tourists in search of occasional celebrity sighting. Southeast of Sylt the islands Föhr and Amrum are located, to the north lies the Danish island Rømø. East of Sylt the Wadden Sea is situated, which belongs to the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park and mostly falls dry during low tide.   read more…

Theme Week North Frisian Islands – Föhr

16 August 2013 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  7 minutes

Wyk - Frisian Museum © Daniel Ponten/cc-by-sa-2.0-de

Wyk – Frisian Museum © Daniel Ponten/cc-by-sa-2.0-de

Föhr is part of the Nordfriesland district in the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein. Föhr is the second-largest North Sea island of Germany and a popular destination for tourists. A town and eleven distinct municipalities are located on the island. The climate is oceanic with moderate winters and relatively cool summers.   read more…

Theme Week North Frisian Islands – Amrum

15 August 2013 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  7 minutes

Norddorf Beach © Mathias Bigge/cc-by-sa-2.5

Norddorf Beach © Mathias Bigge/cc-by-sa-2.5

The island is made up of a sandy core of geestland and features an extended beach all along its west coast, facing the open North Sea. The east coast instead borders to mud flats and tidal creeks of the Wadden Sea. Sand dunes are a characteristical part of Amrum’s landscape, resulting in a vegetation that is largely made up of heath and shrubs. The island’s only forest was planted in 1948. Amrum is a refuge for many species of birds and a number of marine mammals like grey seal or harbour porpoise.   read more…

Theme Week North Frisian Islands – Pellworm

14 August 2013 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  6 minutes

© nordseetourismus.de

© nordseetourismus.de

Pellworm is an island within the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park. Its area is 37 km², and its population is roughly 1,200. Together with several smaller islands, Pellworm forms the Amt Pellworm.   read more…

Theme Week North Frisian Islands – Nordstrand

13 August 2013 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  6 minutes

Typical North Frisian "Supermarket": Fish, fish sandwiches, ice, flowers (e.g. for mommy, girl friend, wife or all of them) and beverages © Dirk Ingo Franke/cc-by-sa-2.0-de

Typical North Frisian “Supermarket”: Fish, fish sandwiches, ice, flowers (e.g. for mommy, girl friend, wife or all of them) and beverages © Dirk Ingo Franke/cc-by-sa-2.0-de

Nordstrand is part of the Nordfriesland district in the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein. Its area is 50 km², and its population is 2,300. Nordstrand has two municipalities, Nordstrand and smaller Elisabeth-Sophien-Koog, which are part of the Amt Nordsee-Treene.   read more…

Theme Week North Frisian Islands

12 August 2013 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General, Bon voyage, Theme Weeks Reading Time:  5 minutes

North Frisian Islands © Schnargel/cc-by-sa-3.0

North Frisian Islands © Schnargel/cc-by-sa-3.0

The North Frisian Islands are a group of islands in the Wadden Sea, a part of the North Sea, off the western coast of Schleswig-Holstein. The German islands are in the traditional region of North Frisia and are part of the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park and the district of Nordfriesland. Occasionally Heligoland is also included in this group.   read more…

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