Langeoog

Langeoog
Aerial view of Langeoog from the north
Coat of arms
Langeoog
Location of Langeoog within Wittmund district
Coordinates: 53°44′54″N 7°28′47″E / 53.74833°N 7.47972°E / 53.74833; 7.47972Coordinates: 53°44′54″N 7°28′47″E / 53.74833°N 7.47972°E / 53.74833; 7.47972
Country	Germany
State	Lower Saxony
District	Wittmund
Government
• Mayor	Uwe Garrels (Ind.)
Area
• Total	19.67 km2 (7.59 sq mi)
Elevation	5 m (16 ft)
Population (2015-12-31)
• Total	1,790
• Density	91/km2 (240/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.

Langeoog's beach is 14 km (9 mi) long. Langeoog's actual size depends on the level of tide, which rises and falls about 2.5 metres (8 ft 2.4 in) in 6 hours.

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.

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

Johannes Letzmann died on Langeoog.

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.