Helgoland
is Germany's only high sea-island. It lies approximately 70 km away
from the german bay and has a surface of about 1 km². The bathing dune
has a surface of about 0.7 km² and lies nearby the main island. In
former times the dune and the main island were once connected with one
another. But this connection was separated in 1720 by a heavy storm tide.
The
island is divided into low, middle and upper country. The difference in
height is about 61 m, so that a regular road con-nection is not possible.
So there are 3 stairs with 182 - 260 stages an a elevator to overcome
the difference in height. |
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Helgoland consists of red sandstone rock and offers a unique vegetation.
The mild climate, which is affected by the close gulf stream, is
responsible for this. In winter it never gets so cold like on the
mainland. For this reason Helgoland is a health resort and a therapeutic
bath at all 4 seasons.
The iodine
and oxygen-rich air is clearer here than on Germany's hightest mountain,
the "Zugspitze" and there is no harmful exhaus gas, because of there
are nearly only battery-operated cars driven here. This are ideal
conditions for allergy-troubled people and to heal breath way complaints.
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Helgoland has approx. 1400 inhabitants and belongs to Pinneberg in
Schleswig-Holstein. The inhabitants live mainly on catering, trade and
tourism. After the main season in autumn or winter many of them leave the island for vacation. |
Helgoland
is excluded from the Schengener agreement. That means, that the island
is a tariff and value added tax-free area. For this reason Helgoland is
the place to buy alcohol, cigarettes, perfume and so on. |
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But
take care to consider the amount of goods you can take with you
withoutpaying tariff. There are random controls when you leave the
island and so some favorable purchase can become very expensive in this
kind.
Remember also not to put your goods into your suit-cases. The suit-cases
are controlled also, but you have to carry all your bought goods in the
hand baggage to give the customs the possibilty to control you.
Here is what you can take with you:
Tobacco goods (at least 17 years)
Alcoholic beverages (at least 17
years)
-
1 litre distilled beverages or
liquor with wine spirit contents of more than 22% of volume
-
or 2 litres distilled
beverages
-
or liqour of alcohol with a
wine spirit content of 22% of volume or less
-
or 2 litres of liqourwine
-
besided 2 litres of other wine
Perfume
Coffee (at least 15 years)
An
indivisible
commodity with a values that exceeds
178,68 EURO is not free of charge
(articles of clothing or decoration, technical or optical devices etc.).
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The
history of Helgoland is so extensive, which would blow up a description
in the framework of this side. In the internet as well as on the
official homepage of Helgoland you can find further information in
addition.
Here
are only two small historical facts :
The poet Heinrich Hoffmann
von Fallersleben stayed on Helgoland in the year 1841 and wrote here
"Das Lied der Deutschen". This became first the national anthem of the
"Weimarer Republik" and later those of the Federal Republik of Germany.
The famous child- and
youth book author James Krüss was born on 31 May 1926 on Helgoland. Its
texts and works are read and loved in the whole world. |