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Rügen
Schloss Ralswiek 2 crop.jpg
Ralswiek Castle
Rügen is located in Germany
Rügen
Location in Germany
Geography
Location Baltic Sea
Area 926.4 km2 (357.7 sq mi)
Length 51.4 km (31.94 mi)
Width 42.8 km (26.59 mi)
Coastline 574 km (356.7 mi)
Highest elevation 161 m (528 ft)
Administration
Germany
Demographics
Population 77,000
Pop. density 79 /km2 (205 /sq mi)

Rügen is the largest island in Germany by size. It is located in the Baltic Sea, just off the coast of Pomerania. This beautiful island is part of the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

The main way to reach Rügen is through the city of Stralsund. Here, the island is connected to the mainland by the Rügen Bridge and Causeway. These two routes cross the Strelasund, which is a narrow arm of the Baltic Sea about two kilometers wide.

Rügen is about 51.4 kilometers long from north to south. Its widest part in the south is 42.8 kilometers across. The island covers an area of 926 square kilometers. Its coast has many sandy beaches, calm lagoons called Bodden, and open bays known as Wieke. You will also find many peninsulas and headlands sticking out into the sea.

In June 2011, UNESCO named the Jasmund National Park a World Heritage Site. This park is famous for its large beech forests and amazing chalk cliffs. One of the most well-known cliffs is King's Chair, which is a main symbol of Rügen.

Rügen island is part of the Vorpommern-Rügen district. The main town for this district is Stralsund. The towns on Rügen itself include Bergen, Sassnitz, Putbus, and Garz. There are also popular Baltic seaside resorts like Binz, Baabe, Göhren, Sellin, and Thiessow.

Many people love to visit Rügen. It is a very popular tourist destination because of its unique resort architecture, its varied landscapes, and its long, sandy beaches.

Exploring Rügen's Geography

Rügen is located in the northeast part of Germany, right in the Baltic Sea. The main part of the island is called Muttland. It is surrounded by many smaller peninsulas.

National Parks and Natural Beauty

Rügen is home to two important German national parks:

  • The Western Pomerania Lagoon Area National Park
  • The Jasmund National Park

Jasmund National Park is especially famous for its stunning white chalk cliffs and ancient beech forests. These natural wonders make Rügen a truly special place to visit.

Images for kids

  • Ruegen halbinsel moenchgut

    Mönchgut lagoon countryside

  • Königsstuhl und Viktoria-Sicht

    Jasmund National Park, famous for its chalk cliffs, the symbol of Rügen: Victoria-Sicht (Victoria's View) and Königsstuhl (King's Chair) from the Baltic Sea

  • Binz (2011-05-21) 03

    Binz

  • Caspar David Friedrich's Chalk Cliffs on Rügen

    German Romantic painter Caspar Friedrich's Chalk Cliffs on Rügen

  • Großsteingrab Lancken 1 - Lancken-Granitz, Insel Rügen

    One of many megalith sites on Rügen: the Lancken-Granitz dolmen

  • Slavnost svatovitova na rujane

    The Celebration of Svetovid on Rügen (1912), Alphonse Mucha, The Slav Epic

  • Belagerung ruegen

    Invasion of Rügen by Brandenburg-Prussia at Neukamp in 1678 (etching by Jan Luiken).

  • Rügenkarte-Lubinus

    1608 map by Eilhardus Lubinus

  • Schloss Ralswiek 2 crop

    Ralswiek Castle

  • KdF Building

    KdF Building Prora

  • Kurhaus Binz Panorama Nacht

    Binz, one of several spas on Rügen, featuring the typical Resort architecture of the German Baltic Sea — Kurhaus (spa hotel) at night

  • Sellin Seebrücke nachts 1

    The pier of Sellin at night

  • Sellin Architecture

    Sellin Architecture

  • Sellin Ost Bahnhof

    Rasender Roland ("Rushing Roland") is Rügen's famous historical steam-powered railway, that runs from Putbus to Binz, Baabe, Sellin and Göhren.

  • AlleeRügen1

    Typical avenue on Rügen. The German Avenue Road starts in Sellin on the island and leads down to the far South of Germany (until Lake Constance).

  • Sassnitz Mukran (2011-05-21) 5

    Ferry port Mukran, (part of Sassnitz)

  • Flugplatz Güttin, Rügen (2011-05-21) 2

    Runway of Rügen Airport at Bergen

  • Karl Schwarz 1865 (IZ 45-08)

    Karl Schwarz, 1865

  • Blücher (nach Gebauer)

    Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher around 1815

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Rügen para niños

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