47 meters high. Weighing over 26,000 tons. These are the dimensions of Lange Anna, the famous red rock directly off Heligoland. Surrounded by rough waves, the popular tourist destination made of red sandstone braces itself against the force of the North Sea. But wind and weather also gnaw at the natural monument ...
Anyone visiting Germany's only high seas island will marvel at Lange Anna in the far northwest. The spectacular rock island made of red sandstone is the top sight on Heligoland for many visitors. The Lange Anna has had the status of a natural monument since 1969.
For the most beautiful view of the rock needle, it is best to walk along the 2.8 km long cliff edge path on the main island. It leads directly past the Lange Anna and offers you magnificent views.
How do you get there? Heligoland is divided into "Unterland", "Mittelland" and "Oberland". The cliff edge path is located on the approx. 60 meter high Oberland. You can reach it on foot via 184 steps. Or quite comfortably with an elevator.
Although Lange Anna is not freely accessible to tourists for nature conservation reasons, it offers a great opportunity for impressive photos. Numerous seabirds such as guillemots, kittiwakes and gannets breed on the red rock. They can best be observed from the neighboring cliff end of the Oberland.
The reddish rock of Lange Anna is interspersed with lighter horizontal layers and looks back on an eventful history. Originally, the boulder was connected to the main island by an arch. On May 16, 1860, it collapsed. What remained of the stone breakwater was the breakwater pier. This was the birth of the Lange Anna.
From 1903 to 1927, the people of Heligoland built a 1.3 km long wall on the west coast. It was intended to protect the soft rock cliff from the erosive force of the elements.
Gradually, the surf ate a cavity in the base of the rock needle. To prevent Lange Anna from collapsing, the cavity was bricked up in 1979. Since then, waves, wind and weather have left further traces. But the natural monument will certainly remain as a landmark of Heligoland for a long time to come. If you don't want to rely on it, plan a visit to the high seas island in good time.
Tip: A trip with the ferry "Halunder Jet" from Hamburg and Cuxhaven offers the longest day stay on the island with up to 4.5 hours.
This is the name of the rock needle in Heligoland-Frisian. It means Nordhorn breakwater. How did it become Lange Anna? Legend has it that in the days of the emperor there was a café at the lookout point on the Oberland. A tall woman named Anna - called Lange Anna by tourists - served there. Already the branding pillar had got its nickname.
Lange Anna extends 47 meters high out of the North Sea. Weighing 26,910 tons, the rock rests in the surf. Its shape tapers towards the top to a diameter of 14 meters. Its volume is 17,000 m³, and its floor area is 180 m².
