Name and Location

The Leuchtturm Amrum, also known as the Amrumer Lighthouse, is located on the Holmsand–Dune ridge overlooking the Wadden Sea in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Its official address is Tanenwai 46A, 25946 Nebel (Großdün), Amrum Island.

2. Construction and History

The lighthouse was first illuminated in 1875 to guide coastal shipping along the North Sea coast and replace an earlier light-vessel station in the Amrumer Watt. It is fully automated, with no publicly documented date of automation. The lighthouse has been listed as a historic monument (Denkmalschutz Schleswig-Holstein) and served as an observation post during both World Wars.

3. Architecture and Materials

The late 19th-century tapering cylindrical tower stands at 41.8 meters above base, with a focal height of 63 meters above mean sea level. The structure is built from red-brick masonry, rendered, and features a cast-iron lantern room.

4. Light and Navigation

The lighthouse emits a group flashing white light every 7.5 seconds, visible up to 23 nautical miles away. The light color is white, and the Admiralty reference is B 1686. The primary function remains as an optical aid, with no publicly documented AIS or radar installations.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

The lighthouse has a small viewing platform at its base, accessible without steps but on a steep path. However, there are no wheelchair-accessible facilities on site. Visitors can reach the site by car, bicycle, or bus, with nearby attractions including the Amrum Museum in Nebel and Kniepsand beach.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

The lighthouse offers panoramic views over the Wadden Sea mudflats, neighboring islands Föhr and Sylt, and the back-shore dune landscape. The surrounding area is home to migratory birds, seals on sandbanks, and dune-grass communities.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

While no major shipwrecks are directly associated with this lighthouse, it has played a role in maritime history as an observation post during both World Wars. Former keepers' quarters adjacent to the tower are now privately owned but not open to the public.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is maintained by Wasser- und Schifffahrtsamt Tönning (Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration). Nautical chart references include German Hydrographic Office charts of the Schleswig-Holstein coast, with Admiralty reference B 1686.

9. Further Information

For further reading and references, consult BfS 2/20 WSA Tönning, "Leuchttürme an der Nordsee" by Holger Hubrich (1998), Schleswig-Holstein Denkmalliste (online database), and the tourism office Amrum website.