Baken · Blüsen · Feuertürme

The “Roter Sand” lighthouse, built between Bremerhaven and Heligoland in 1883–85, is certainly one of the most prominent navigational aids in the German Bight.  According to popular belief, the greatest dangers to shipping always began only when a ship returned to coastal waters after a long voyage at sea. Thus, even in the earliest times, beacons and permanent navigational aids were installed on land to make it easier for ships to find river mouths and to help them determine their own position so they could avoid hazards such as sandbars and reefs. Buoys and beacons guide sailors by day, while lighthouses guide them by night. Günter Marklein’s latest book traces the development of navigational aids from their beginnings in the 13th century through to the modern era.