Schleswig-Holstein

Schleswig-Holstein – Lange Anna on Heligoland

Lange Anna is a striking, freestanding sea stack of red sandstone off the North Sea island of Heligoland and is the island's best-known landmark. The rock was originally part of the so-called Lummenfelsen (Guillemot Cliff) but was gradually separated from the main cliff by the constant erosion of the North Sea, and has since stood as an isolated rock pillar in the sea. The rock's distinctive red color shapes Heligoland's landscape and gave rise to the island's nickname, the "Red Island." Numerous seabirds, including northern gannets, nest around Lange Anna, making Heligoland's cliffs an important bird sanctuary.

Lange Anna is now strictly protected, and access is no longer permitted, in order to preserve the sensitive habitat of the seabirds and the stability of the rock. As the most striking natural monument on Germany's only offshore island, the rock pillar has become an enduring symbol of Heligoland and the northern German coastal landscape. It draws numerous visitors and nature lovers each year, eager to experience the island's unique rock formations and birdlife. With the 2035 commemorative 2-euro coin, Schleswig-Holstein honors this striking natural landmark.