Germany: Anna on the edge | European Journal

Helgoland is facing a crisis. Tourists are staying away from the island, and local residents are leaving in droves.Scores of day trippers were once attracted by the tax-free shopping, but the golden age of duty-free is long past. And Helgoland is now much more expensive to reach. The island is 70 kilometers away from the mainland, and many local families see no future for themselves here anymore. Even the island's famous landmark is in danger; waves and storms are lashing ‘Tall Anna’, a huge freestanding rock made of red sandstone. Safety measures would cost millions to implement, but unless that happens, 'Tall Anna' could soon be lost to the sea.