Westerheversand Lighthouse in Westerhever, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

Red and white on the horizon. Westerheversand Lighthouse, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

Rising above the salt marshes along Germany's North Sea coast, the Westerheversand Lighthouse is instantly recognizable thanks to its distinctive red-and-white stripes. Built between 1906 and 1908, the lighthouse has stood as an icon on the Eiderstedt Peninsula for more than a century, guiding ships through the waters of the North Sea. Today, it remains one of northern Germany's best-known coastal landmarks. Visitors who climb its 157 steps are rewarded with sweeping views of the surrounding scenery.

A narrow tidal channel meanders through the marshland, leading the eye toward the striped beacon in the distance. The surrounding landscape is part of the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park, within the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Wadden Sea. Shaped by the constant rhythm of tides, this remarkable coastal environment changes throughout the day as water levels rise and fall. Salt marshes and extensive tidal flats support a rich variety of wildlife, making the Wadden Sea one of the world's most important wetland ecosystems.