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Wangerooge from the air, approaching the island from the south
Wangerooge from the air, approaching the island from the south
Coat of arms of Wangerooge
Coat of arms
Wangerooge   is located in Germany
Coordinates: 53°47′27″N 7°53′57″E﻿ / ﻿53.79083°N 7.89917°E﻿ / 53.79083; 7.89917Coordinates: 53°47′27″N 7°53′57″E﻿ / ﻿53.79083°N 7.89917°E﻿ / 53.79083; 7.89917
Country Germany
State Lower Saxony
District Friesland
 • Mayor Holger Kohls (Ind.)
 • Total 7.94 km2 (3.07 sq mi)
Population (2013-12-31)[1]
 • Total 1,294
 • Density 160/km2 (420/sq mi)
Postal codes 26486
Dialling codes 04469
Vehicle registration FRI



Wangerooge is separated from the island of Spiekeroog by a gat known as the Harle.


In order to guarantee a relaxed atmosphere, cars are prohibited on the island. The island can be reached by ship from Harlesiel, or it can be reached by plane from Harlesiel, Bremen, or Hamburg. The ferries leave at different times every day according to the tide. As on most East Frisian Islands, a small narrow gauge railway line, the Wangerooge Island Railway, connects the harbor to the main village.


Wangerooge is also known as the site of a historic World War II B-17 Flying Fortress crash, or rather a double crash. During a bombing mission on Hamburg on New Year's Eve, 1944, a B-17 squadron was attacked by German fighter planes on its homeward flight. While in tight formation, one plane was shot down and became entangled with the plane below it. One of the pilots managed to take control of the two aircraft and steer them back towards the German coast for an emergency landing. At the time, the two entangled aircraft were described as resembling breeding dragonflies as the ball turrets of each plane were caught in the chassis of the other. Most of the crew bailed out, while two remained and successfully made a crash landing in a field.

Wangerooge has an airport.

Location of Wangerooge in Friesland district

See also[edit]


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