Lange Anna (Heligoland)

About this spectacle

Rising 47 metres from the churning North Sea off the north-western tip of Heligoland, Lange Anna is a dramatic free-standing pillar of vivid red sandstone. Waves have sculpted this isolated stack over millennia, leaving it surrounded by white foam and open water. Visitors standing on the adjacent clifftop path feel the raw Atlantic-influenced wind and can take in the stark contrast between the rust-red rock, the grey-green sea, and the wide northern sky. Seabirds — guillemots, razorbills, and gannets — nest on the ledges and spiral around the column, filling the air with calls. The stack is most striking in low-angle morning light, when the red sandstone glows intensely and shadows deepen every crack and fissure. Access is from the main island, which itself requires a ferry crossing, adding to the sense of remoteness and reward.

When to go

Jan — Dec, peak May — Aug

Getting there

Nearest airport: HAM. Nearest city: Hamburg.

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