Greifswalder Oie, Baltic Sea island near Kröslin, Germany
Greifswalder Oie is an island in the Baltic Sea covering about 54 hectares, stretching 1,550 meters long and 570 meters wide. Cliffs on the eastern side rise up to 19 meters and form the island's most striking natural feature.
From 1936 to 1991, the island was a closed military zone where numerous experimental rocket launches took place during World War II. After the war, it remained restricted by Soviet control and inaccessible to the public for decades.
The name comes from the Slavic 'Swante Wostrossna,' meaning Holy Island, indicating this was a sacred place in ancient times. People have long regarded this location as spiritually significant.
The island is accessible only by ferry from Peenemünde or Karlshagen, with visits limited to a maximum of two hours. Only 50 people are permitted to visit per day, so advance planning is necessary.
The 49-meter lighthouse built in 1853 is the only one in the Baltic Sea with a counter-clockwise rotating beacon. This unusual technical feature makes it a remarkable structure in the region.
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