European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 31, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Cd str North in air and hit Goodw tither Type Flo Hal Golinda of Flor in typing a Law of tin by not Village and Harbor. Helgoland Germany s Rock of tourism North sea Helgoland Balti sea k v Storset by of Mapother Slaff writer Rush hour on the North sea Island of Helgoland is played out to the tune of thousands of feet tramping As vacationers scramble for the launches thai will take them Back to their waiting cruise ships. Missing from the late afternoon scenario is that Champion of the american Way the automobile As much traffic As possible is done by electric powered vehicles. In its place dozens of open faced launches stand ready to Terry passengers to the ships where deck chairs wait to Sool he aching feet during the several hours in lakes to reach the Mainland. Helgoland and its 2,000 permanent inhabitants play Host to More than 400,000 visitors a year. Mayor Klaus Degenhardt said. A Good summer Day will bring 7,000 guests to the Island famous for its fresh air and red Sandstone Cliffs. The strategic location of Helgoland 47 sea Miles West of the German seaport of Bremerhaven has also brought other visitors Denmark and England have controlled the Island during ils history. The German pirate Claus Stoe Rebeker used Helgoland As a base of operations before he was hanged in Hamburg in the 15th Century. After taking it Over again in 1945, the English decided in 1947 to do away with the Island that was a German submarine base in both world wars. They placed 6,700 turn of explosives on the Island and attempted to destroy what had not already been destroyed by wartime bombing and use of the Island As a bombing Range. The explosives destroyed almost All of the extensive network of underground tunnels and every building except the present Day Lighthouse which was Only damaged. Bui the geological makeup of the Island absorbed enough of the blast to Render the attempt a failure. Nonetheless when Helg olanders were allowed to return in 1952 hey found an Island thai looked even More Barren than it did to settlers arriving during the Early Slone age. The decision was made to rebuild in a style that blended in with the Island s natural Topography. Automobiles were out from the beginning As Helg olanders began work on what would become a major tourist attraction. About 80 German soldiers comprise the Only military presence on the Island today. They operate radar and navigational equipment Regenhardt said. The Island a neatly divided into the inhabited Southern end of the Island with hotels duty free shop and beaches and the rugged North end of the Island where sheep patrol the grasslands and where thousands of Birds live on the sheer Cliff Walls. Helgoland is further divided by a narrow Channel Between the main Island and dunes that were connected to in until a big storm in 1711. This area offers the Best beaches. It takes about 45 minutes to walk from the port area to the northernmost tip of the Island. The Highlands North of the port Are accessible by an elevator which costs 1 Mark about 50 censor by walking up stairs. Duly free shops have been a part of Helgoland s history since it was first developed for tourism in the late 19lh Century Regenhardt said. They Are part of the attraction hat has allowed development of More than 2,000 hotel rooms on the Island. A youth Hostel and a 100-Slle camping ground also Are available. Coal and Ouire shipped in a water desalinization Plant was built in 1972. The Cost of providing Denali sized water is one reason that the Cost of living for Helg olanders averages about 30 percent More than on the German Mainland Degenhardt said Helgoland is easily reached by both so a and land ferry. Inexpensive airfares round trip $35 Are available from the East frisian islands. Connections from major cities such As Bremen Cost several times that. A ferry leaves Bremerhaven each Day for Helgoland. Like most of the connections from North sea cities the ship remains off the Shore for several hours and passengers Are ferried in by boat. The round trip Cost is 53 Marks about $25. Further information is available from the Helgoland  Postrach 720,2192 Helgoland Germany Telephone 04725-Bobso. Helgoland Olen Pun air a sea voyage and a Chance to feed the guilt. Ilrine nu0uint f a ref. 1906