Langeoog

Langeoog
Aerial view of Langeoog from the north
Coat of arms of Langeoog Coat of arms
Langeoog
Location of Langeoog within Wittmund district
Coordinates:
Country	Germany
State	Lower Saxony
District	Wittmund
Government
• Mayor	Uwe Garrels (Ind.)
Area
• Total	19.67 km2 (7.59 sq mi)
Population (2013-12-31)
• Total	1,741
• Density	89/km2 (230/sq mi)
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes	26465
Dialling codes	04972
Vehicle registration	WTM
Website	www.langeoog.de

Langeoog is one of the seven inhabited East Frisian Islands at the edge of the Lower Saxon Wadden Sea in the southern North Sea, located between Baltrum Island (west), and Spiekeroog (east). It is also a municipality in the district of Wittmund in Lower Saxony, Germany. The name Langeoog means Long Island in the Low German dialect.

Geography

Langeoog's beach is 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) long. Langeoog's actual size depends on the level of tide, which rises and falls about 2.5 metres (8 ft 2 in) in 6 hours.

Fresh water, where salt water is all around

Langeoog is — seen with the geologist's eye — nothing but sand. Rainwater that drips into the sand has a lower density than saltwater, which makes a kind of freshwater bubble float over the saltwater surrounding and deep under the island.

The beach and the dunes are eroded by the sea in the western part of the island. In the last 50 years Langeoog's western end has moved several hundred metres to the east. Things like this happen on every East Frisian island — some islands moved so far that the town had to be rebuilt several times. Every island except Juist and Langeoog has large concrete groynes at its western end.

History

Storm Tides

In 1717 Langeoog was cut in three parts by the Christmas storm tide.

Deaths

Johannes Letzmann died on Langeoog.

Transportation

Ferry Langeoog IV in the morning

Langeoog can be reached from Bensersiel port on the East Frisian mainland by the ferries of the Langeoog Shipping Company Langeoog I, Langeoog II, Langeoog III and Langeoog IV. Langeoog ferries' schedule does not depend on the tide, which is unusual among East Frisian ferries.

The port and the town are linked by a railway, and Langeoog also has an airport.

Langeoog largely has a no automobile policy. Visitors to the island have to leave their cars on the mainland. Only the fire department and ambulance service have standard motorized vehicles. Tractors and heavy construction vehicles can be operated within limits. The policemen and doctors get about on bicycles. Some companies (construction, drink delivery, post office, etc.) have electric cars. The post office and the shipping company have one electric car each. If one does not want to walk, one can rent a bicycle or take a horse carriage taxi.

Tourism

Tourism is the main source of income for Langeoog's economy. There are guest rooms in almost all island buildings. There are also several hotels. The youth hostel is several kilometers outside the town.

The island's unpolluted air makes it popular with people who have respiratory problems.

Landmarks

A Lili Marleen and Lale Andersen memorial in Langeoog

• Langeoog's water tower.
• The tower of the Catholic Church.
• The tower of the Protestant church.
• The Melkhörndüne — This was once East Frisia's highest natural elevation and, as such, a tourist attraction. Unfortunately, the thousands of visitors every year walking to the top of it have shifted the sand and the dune was "demoted" as the highest point. The highest point is now the "White Dune" on the neighbouring island of Spiekeroog.
• The "Seenotbeobachtungsstelle" — the watchtower of the lifeboat service.

Famous people

Singer-songwriter Lale Andersen, whose 1939 interpretation of the song Lili Marleen became tremendously popular during World War II, lived here for several years. Although she died in Vienna in 1972, she is buried on the island's dune cemetery. A bronze memorial in her honor has been erected on Langeoog.

See also

• List of ferry boats of the East Frisian Islands

External links

• Official site (German)
• Langeoog Island Ferry (German)
• Langeoog Online - Travel and Tourism Directory (German)