Heligoland: Seals, Long Anna and duty-free cigarettes

Heligoland actually has two islands: the main island, and the even smaller "Dune." Before the 1721 storm flood, the two were joined by a natural bank, but today they are separated by a strait. Though it's located far from the German coast, technically speaking Heligoland isn't a deep-sea island as it is still part of the continental shelf.

North Sea rock for lush East Africa island: The "Heligoland-Zanzibar Treaty" stipulated that Britain would cede ownership of Heligoland to the German Empire while Germany in turn relinquished its claims on the Zanzibar islands in East Africa. Kaiser Wilhelm II came to Heligoland in person to witness the raising of the flag.

In the years following WWI, Heligoland became a popular summer resort. But beginning in the mid-1930s, the Nazis pushed for remilitarization, extending the port, overhauling and enlarging bunkers and tunnels. Parts of the compound can still be toured today.

Britain bombed the island in WWII, and took control of Heligoland once gain. The islanders were evacuated to the mainland. In 1947, Britain decided to destroy all military installations and munitions still left on Heligoland. Operation "Big Bang" was the largest non-nuclear explosion in history.

Fears that the "Big Bang" might cause Heligoland to sink, turned out to be unfounded. Britain continued to use the island for bombing exercises after the war, but it still juts out 61 meters high above sea level. In 1950, two Heidelberg students occupied Heligoland, putting the British government under pressure to return the archipelago.

On March 1, 1952, Heligoland was German once again. The island was allowed to keep privileges dating to British times: it's excluded from the EU VAT area, and the customs union. Since 1962, Heligoland has also been an official North Sea spa. People come from far and near for the pollen-free air - and to buy cigarettes.

Fishermen once stored their catch in the "lobster shacks". Today, they are a picturesque backdrop for tourists. When the tourist boats chug in around noon, the population increases significantly for about three hours - until the day tourists have left and the island is again its placid self.

"Lange Anna" is one of the island's foremost attractions, a free-standing rock column that towers 48 meters over sea level. The reddish sandstone that almost the entire main island is made of is home to an enormous variety of migratory birds. More than 350 species have been recorded.

More wildlife: Hundreds of seals frolick on the beaches of Dune, the smaller of Heligoland's two islands. They haven't been hunted for decades, so they are not afraid of humans. However, for reasons of animal protection and visitor safety, it's forebidden to get closer than 30 meters.

The huge turbines may not be visible from the island, but Heligoland has become a base for offshore wind farms. One operator even reserved the island's only luxury hotel for its employees for ten years. With their distinctive deafening noise, helicopters regularly take off from the island, a development the islanders aren't too happy about.