View source for Cape Arkona

{{Short description|Cape on the island of Rügen in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
[[Image:Kap Arkona2.jpg|thumb|250px|View of Cape Arkona]]

'''Cape Arkona''' ({{Langx|de|Kap Arkona}}), also spelled '''Arcona''', is a 45-metre (150-foot) high [[Cape (geography)|cape]] on the island of [[Rügen]] in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It forms the tip of the [[Wittow]] peninsula, just a few kilometres north of the [[Jasmund National Park]]. The [[protected landscape]] of Cape Arkona, together with the fishing village of [[Vitt]], belongs to the municipality of [[Putgarten]] and is one of the most popular tourist destinations on Rügen, receiving about 800,000 visitors annually.

On the cape there are two [[lighthouses]], a navigation tower, two military bunker complexes, the [[Slavic peoples|Slavic]] temple fortress of ''[[Jaromarsburg]]'' and several tourist buildings (restaurants, pubs and souvenir shops).

Because of its geology and the weathering that occurs here, there are frequent coastal collapses, especially in winter.

Cape Arkona is often referred to as "the northernmost point of Rügen", which is not true. Approximately one kilometre to the north-west, there is a point on the [[steep coast]], known as the ''Gellort'', which is a little further north. Directly at the foot of the Gellort is a 165-ton [[glacial erratic]] boulder known as the  ''[[Siebenschneiderstein]]'' ([[Low German]]: ''Söbenschniedersteen''). The cape offers a view of the island, both from land or sea.

== Lighthouses and navigation tower ==
{{main|Cape Arkona Lighthouse}}
The smaller of the two lighthouses was built of brick in 1826/27 based on plans by [[Karl Friedrich Schinkel]] and taken into service in 1828. It is 19.3&nbsp;metres high and has a focal height of {{Höhe|60|DE-NN|link=true}}. The rooms of the three-storey tower are used as operating and storage rooms. It is also called the ''Schinkelturm'' ("Schinkel Tower"). On 31 March 1905 it was taken out of service. It is the second oldest lighthouse on the German [[Baltic Sea]] coast after the [[Travemünde Lighthouse]].

[[File:PeilturmArkona.jpg|thumb|upright|Marine navigation tower (''Peilturm'')]]
The largest tower was built in 1901/02 right next to the old tower and entered service on 1 April 1905. It is 35&nbsp;metres high and  has a focal height of {{Höhe|75|DE-NN}}. It is made of brick and stands on an octagonal granite base. For 90 years its light source was two [[arc lamp]]s, but they were replaced in 1995 by a [[metal-halide lamp]]. This, combined with the rotating triple optics, emits 3 flashes every 17 seconds.

The old naval navigation tower (German: ''Peilturm'') was built in 1927 of brick and acted as a [[electric beacon|marine navigation beacon]]. From 1911 to 1925, attempts were made - which were ground-breaking for that time - to improve navigation for the [[Kings Line|Sassnitz–Trelleborg]] railway ferry, established in 1909, using the emission of radio waves. The foundations of the associated radio operating facility inside the ramparts have survived to this day. The technical facilities of the navigation tower were destroyed, however, in 1945

All three towers were renovated in the early 1990s and are open to visitors. In the old lighthouse, there is now a museum and a branch of the registry office. Marriages may be commemorated here on a small plaque in the ground in front of the tower. The navigation tower is used as an art museum and studio. On each tower there is a viewing platform from which there are unobstructed views of Rügen and especially the peninsula of Wittow. In clear weather you can even see as far as the Danish island of [[Møn]].

{{clear}}

== Jaromarsburg ==
{{main|Jaromarsburg|Siege of Arkona}}

[[Image:Bishop Absalon topples the god Svantevit at Arkona.PNG|thumb|right|Bishop Absalon topples the god [[Svantevit]] at Arkona in 1169]]

From the 9th<ref>Torsten Kempke: Skandinavisch-slawische Kontakte an der südlichen Ostseeküste im 7. bis 9. Jahrhundert, in Ole Harck, [[Christian Lübke]] (Hrsgg.): Zwischen Reric und Bornhöved. Die Beziehungen zwischen den Dänen und ihren slawischen Nachbarn vom 9. bis ins 13. Jahrhundert (Forschungen zur Geschichte und Kultur des Östlichen Mitteleuropa, vol. 11), Stuttgart 2000, pp. 9-22, esp. p. 14; Heike Reimann, Fred Ruchhöft, Cornelia Willich: Rügen im Mittelalter. Eine interdisziplinäre Studie zur mittelalterlichen Besiedlung auf Rügen (Forschungen zur Geschichte und Kultur des Östlichen Mitteleuropa, vol. 36), Stuttgart 2011, pp. 42 ff.</ref> to the 12th centuries, the Jaromarsburg was a [[cult (religious practice)|cult]] site for the [[Rani (Slavic tribe)|Rani]], a Slavic tribe, which was dedicated to their god [[Svantevit]]. Located at the tip of the cape, it was protected on three sides by cliffs and from the land side by a 25-metre-high [[Gord (archaeology)|burgwall]]. The temple located within the ramparts grew in importance as a religious centre for the Slavs of [[Mecklenburg]] after the destruction of [[Rethra]] in 1068. In 1168, the Danish king [[Valdemar I of Denmark|Valdemar I]] conquered Rügen which then became Christian. Churches were established and the castle and its temple destroyed.

At the tip of Arkona in recent centuries, the cliffs have repeatedly collapsed into the sea, with the result that only the ramparts of the Jaromarsburg are still visible today.

{{clear}}

== Steps to the beach: ''Königstreppe'' and ''Veilchentreppe'' ==
[[File:Veilchentreppe.jpg|thumb|upright|The ''Veilchentreppe'' steps]]
Several metres west of Cape Arkona is the ''Königstreppe'' ("King's Staircase"), whose 230 steps climb up the 42-metre-high cliff 230.
The Swedish king, [[Frederick of Sweden|Frederick I]] – Rügen then belonged to Sweden – had a [[daymark]] erected near the present-day steps during the [[Russo-Swedish War (1741–1743)]] to warn the population. Hence the spot was known as the ''Königssteig'' or "King's Climb".

In 1833, for the arrival of the steamboat ''Hercules'' during its Imperial Russian [[Marine chronometer|chronometer]] expedition, the [[Prussia]]n king, [[Frederick William III of Prussia|Frederick William III]] - Rügen was now Prussian - had a landing stage and flight of steps built.<ref>[http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1846AN.....24...87. Die Kaiserlich-russische Chronometer-Expedition in der Ostsee zwischen Pulkowa, Moskau und Warschau im Jahre 1833]</ref> From this point in 1865, the first [[telegraphy|telegraph cable]] was laid under the Baltic Sea to Sweden. With the rise of the island's coastal resorts, tourism at Cape Arkona grew. Many travelers came by excursion boats that moored at the pier at the foot of the steps. The landing stage was, however, completely destroyed by the [[storm flood]] of 1953. The new ''Königstreppe'' steps were completed in 1995 at the same historic spot, taking a year to build.

South of the remnants of the ramparts at Jaromarsburg are the ''Veilchentreppe'' ("Violet Staircase"), a descent to the beach that runs from Arkona to Vitt. The name comes from the violets that grow around the staircase in spring.

{{clear}}

== Bunkers ==
[[File:Kap Arkona - Leuchtturm-Aussicht - Arkona-Bunker 2.jpg|thumb|View of the Wehrmacht bunker of ''Schinkelturm'']]

There are two [[bunker]]s in the immediate neighbourhood of the two lighthouses. The smaller, older bunker dates from ''[[Wehrmacht]]'' times and, in GDR days, housed an outpost of the [[Border Troops of the German Democratic Republic|6th (Coastal) Border Brigade]]. It is generally called the ''Arkona Bunker''.
[[File:Kap Arkona - Leuchtturm-Aussicht - NVA-Bunker 1.jpg|thumb|View of the [[National People's Army|NVA]] bunker from the new lighthouse]]

The larger, newer bunker was built from 1979 to 1986 and acted as a command post for the [[Sixth Flotilla (Volksmarine)|Sixth Flotilla]], stationed on [[Bug (Rügen)|Bug]], and the [[Baltic Fleet]] (VOF). Starting from a main central tunnel with two entrances, there are several [[autonomous]] individual bunkers with a total area of 2,000 square metres. They comprise three large bunkers (type FB-75) and nine small ones (type FB-3), made of prefabricated concrete elements (FB = prefabricated bunker). The FB-75 type bunker had an intermediate floor level, where the sleeping areas were located, and an emergency exit. Each individual shelter has a main corridor and two [[airlock]]s. Over the top is a {{convert|3|to|5|m|ft|adj=mid|-high}} earth covering, from which protrude dozens of ventilation tubes.

In 1985, on the 30th anniversary of the [[National People's Army|National People's Army (NVA)]], an aerial photograph of Cape Arkona, with the bunker complex in the background, was publicised in the picture book ''Soldaten des Volkes'' ("Soldiers of the People"). The bunkers were uncamouflaged. How the photograph was allowed to appear in this book is not clear, but it was withdrawn from circulation again just three days after its publication. A later edition of the illustrated book was published with the aerial image omitted. Today, the original picture book is a collector's piece.

From 1986, 50–70 soldiers of the ''[[Volksmarine]]'' ("People's Navy") were on duty here for two to three days, three to four times a year, as part of naval exercises. The standard complement was four men. On 3 October 1990, the day of [[German reunification]], the site was closed.

The bunkers were purchased and successively renovated by the municipality of Putgarten. The Arkona Bunker now houses an art gallery and the NVA Bunker an exhibition of GDR fittings and equipment as well as a series of photographs on the ''Volksmarine''.

== Access ==
[[File:Putgarten Touristenstation.JPG|thumb|The Arkona road train in Putgarten]]
Just outside Putgarten is a large car park where all visitors to the cape have to park their cars or tour buses. From there the cape may be accessed on foot (1.8&nbsp;km), by horse and carriage or on the Cape Arkona [[trackless train|road train]] (''Kap-Arkona-Bahn''). The various sights may also be visited by bicycle.

Since 1993 the Cape Arkona Train has provided services from Putgarten to Cape Arkona and the fishing village of Vitt. It does not run on rails as the name suggests, but is a [[Trackless train|road train]] that runs on wheels on normal roads. The train is hauled by a tractor designed to look like a [[steam locomotive]] but since 1996 has actually been powered by a more environmentally-friendly [[gas engine]].

Ships operated by the ''Reederei Ostsee-Tour'' also run daily from [[Binz]] and [[Sassnitz]] to Cape Arkona.

== Climate ==
[[File:Klimadiagramm-deutsch-Kap Arkona (MV)-Deutschland.png|thumb|Climatic diagram]]
The climate at Cape Arkona is typical of the North Vorpommern coast. The average annual temperature is {{convert|8.9|C|F}}. Precipitation amounts to {{convert|547.8|mm|in|abbr=on}} per year. Because of its proximity to the sea, its humidity is very high.

The Cape Arkona weather station has recorded the following extreme values:<ref name=sklima/>
* Highest Temperature {{convert|33.5|C|F}} on [[2019 European heatwaves#Germany|30 June 2019]].
* Warmest Minimum {{convert|22.1|C|F}} on 10 July 2010.
* Coldest Maximum {{convert|-11.0|C|F}} on 15 February 1956.
* Lowest Temperature {{convert|-18.9|C|F}} on 1 February 1954.<ref name=wetterzentrale/>
* Highest Daily Precipitation {{convert|83.0|mm|in|abbr=on}} on 15 September 1955.
* Wettest Month {{convert|234.6|mm|in|abbr=on}} in August 2010.
* Wettest Year {{convert|830.5|mm|in|abbr=on}} in 1960.
* Driest Year {{convert|331.3|mm|in|abbr=on}} in 1971.
* Earliest Snowfall: 2 November 1966.
* Latest Snowfall: 23 April 1988.
* Longest annual sunshine: 2,187.4 hours in 2018.
* Shortest annual sunshine: 1,591.7 hours in 1987.

{{Weather box|width=auto
|location = Cape Arkona (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1947–present)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 13.7
|Feb record high C = 16.3
|Mar record high C = 18.4
|Apr record high C = 25.5
|May record high C = 27.7
|Jun record high C = 33.5
|Jul record high C = 30.3
|Aug record high C = 32.2
|Sep record high C = 28.9
|Oct record high C = 25.0
|Nov record high C = 17.9
|Dec record high C = 13.1
|year record high C = 33.5
|Jan avg record high C = 8.2
|Feb avg record high C = 8.6
|Mar avg record high C = 12.7
|Apr avg record high C = 17.7
|May avg record high C = 21.0
|Jun avg record high C = 24.2
|Jul avg record high C = 25.8
|Aug avg record high C = 26.4
|Sep avg record high C = 22.3
|Oct avg record high C = 17.4
|Nov avg record high C = 12.3
|Dec avg record high C = 9.1
|year avg record high C = 28.0
|Jan high C = 3.2
|Feb high C = 3.3
|Mar high C = 5.6
|Apr high C = 9.5
|May high C = 13.7
|Jun high C = 17.7
|Jul high C = 20.4
|Aug high C = 20.7
|Sep high C = 17.1
|Oct high C = 12.3
|Nov high C = 7.6
|Dec high C = 4.5
|year high C = 11.3
|Jan mean C = 1.5
|Feb mean C = 1.6
|Mar mean C = 3.3
|Apr mean C = 6.6
|May mean C = 10.8
|Jun mean C = 14.6
|Jul mean C = 17.4
|Aug mean C = 17.8
|Sep mean C = 14.7
|Oct mean C = 10.2
|Nov mean C = 5.9
|Dec mean C = 2.8
|year mean C = 8.9
|Jan low C = -0.3
|Feb low C = -0.2
|Mar low C = 1.2
|Apr low C = 4.3
|May low C = 8.2
|Jun low C = 12.0
|Jul low C = 14.8
|Aug low C = 15.2
|Sep low C = 12.4
|Oct low C = 8.2
|Nov low C = 4.1
|Dec low C = 1.0
|year low C = 6.7
|Jan avg record low C = -6.3
|Feb avg record low C = -5.2
|Mar avg record low C = -2.9
|Apr avg record low C = 0.1
|May avg record low C = 4.3
|Jun avg record low C = 8.6
|Jul avg record low C = 11.3
|Aug avg record low C = 11.3
|Sep avg record low C = 8.7
|Oct avg record low C = 3.5
|Nov avg record low C = -1.0
|Dec avg record low C = -5.1
|year avg record low C = -8.3
|Jan record low C = -17.0
|Feb record low C = -18.9
|Mar record low C = -16.9
|Apr record low C = -2.8
|May record low C = -0.7
|Jun record low C = 3.3
|Jul record low C = 7.8
|Aug record low C = 7.8
|Sep record low C = 3.4
|Oct record low C = -1.3
|Nov record low C = -8.7
|Dec record low C = -13.7
|year record low C = -18.9
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 39.9
|Feb precipitation mm = 29.2
|Mar precipitation mm = 30.4
|Apr precipitation mm = 28.3
|May precipitation mm = 41.5
|Jun precipitation mm = 56.9
|Jul precipitation mm = 56.6
|Aug precipitation mm = 67.8
|Sep precipitation mm = 52.9
|Oct precipitation mm = 53.8
|Nov precipitation mm = 45.6
|Dec precipitation mm = 44.9
|year precipitation mm = 547.8
|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 16.3
|Feb precipitation days = 14.7
|Mar precipitation days = 12.9
|Apr precipitation days = 10.3
|May precipitation days = 11.2
|Jun precipitation days = 12.2
|Jul precipitation days = 12.3
|Aug precipitation days = 13.5
|Sep precipitation days = 13.2
|Oct precipitation days = 15.7
|Nov precipitation days = 16.2
|Dec precipitation days = 17.8
|year precipitation days = 166.4
|Jan snow depth cm = 4.9
|Feb snow depth cm = 6.3
|Mar snow depth cm = 3.4
|Apr snow depth cm = 0.5
|May snow depth cm = 0
|Jun snow depth cm = 0
|Jul snow depth cm = 0
|Aug snow depth cm = 0
|Sep snow depth cm = 0
|Oct snow depth cm = 0
|Nov snow depth cm = 0.7
|Dec snow depth cm = 3.6
|year snow depth cm = 10.1
|unit snow days = 1.0&nbsp;cm
|Jan snow days = 6.4
|Feb snow days = 7.6
|Mar snow days = 3.9
|Apr snow days = 0.2
|May snow days = 0
|Jun snow days = 0
|Jul snow days = 0
|Aug snow days = 0
|Sep snow days = 0
|Oct snow days = 0
|Nov snow days = 0.6
|Dec snow days = 3.6
|year snow days = 22.9
|humidity colour = green
|Jan humidity = 87.4
|Feb humidity = 86.1
|Mar humidity = 83.9
|Apr humidity = 81.2
|May humidity = 80.5
|Jun humidity = 80.0
|Jul humidity = 79.8
|Aug humidity = 79.7
|Sep humidity = 80.3
|Oct humidity = 82.8
|Nov humidity = 86.7
|Dec humidity = 88.0
|year humidity = 83.0
|Jan sun = 48.4
|Feb sun = 69.0
|Mar sun = 143.6
|Apr sun = 225.8
|May sun = 277.3
|Jun sun = 274.5
|Jul sun = 277.3
|Aug sun = 247.4
|Sep sun = 179.0
|Oct sun = 115.3
|Nov sun = 52.8
|Dec sun = 37.3
|year sun = 1948.4
|source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name=NOAA>{{cite web
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230914161643/https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Germany/CSV/Arkona_10091.csv
|archive-date = 14 September 2023
|url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Germany/CSV/Arkona_10091.csv
|title = Arkona Climate Normals 1991–2020
|publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
|access-date = 15 September 2023}}</ref>
|source 2 = [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]]<ref name = DWD>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_100910_kt.pdf
|title = Klimatafel von Arkona / Rügen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern / Deutschland
|work = Baseline climate means (1961–1990) from stations all over the world
|publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst
|language = de
|access-date = 9 November 2018}}</ref><ref name=wetterzentrale>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.wetterzentrale.de/extremes_mon.php?station=660&maand=1&country=1&order=1&extreem=X_TX
|title = Extremwertanalyse der DWD-Stationen, Tagesmaxima, Dekadenrekorde, usw.
|publisher = DWD
|language = de
|access-date = 28 October 2024}}</ref><ref name=sklima>{{cite web
|url = http://sklima.de/datenbank_auswertung.php?tab=2
|title = Monatsauswertung
|website = sklima.de
|publisher = SKlima
|language = de
|access-date = 28 October 2024}}</ref>
}}

== Accident ==
On 26 December 2011, there was a major rock slide at Cape Arkona, which buried a ten-year-old girl and seriously injured her mother. A weeklong search for the child was given up on 8 January 2012 and it was not until 31 January 2012 that the child's body was found at the foot of the cliff.

== Maritime ==
===Ships===
[[File:Schiff Cap Arkona.jpg|thumb|right|Ship named ''Cap Arkona'']]
The following ships have been named after Cape Arkona:
* The Prussian [[steam frigate]] {{SMS|Arcona|1858|2}}, launched in 1858, the lead ship of the {{sclass|Arcona|frigate|1}}s
* The German screw [[corvette]] {{SMS|Arcona|1885|2}}, launched in 1885
* The German [[light cruiser]] {{SMS|Arcona|1902|2}}, launched in 1902
* The German [[Ocean liner|luxury ocean liner]], ''[[SS Cap Arcona]]'', launched in 1927.
* The cargo ship, ''[[Cape Arkona (ship)|Kap Arkona]]'', owned by ''Deutsche Seereederei'' (DSR).
* The rescue cruiser, ''[[Arkona (1992)|Arkona]]'', of the [[German Maritime Search and Rescue Service]].

===Other===
An [[offshore wind farm]] called Arkona<ref>[http://www.tu.no/artikler/statoils-gjor-sin-storste-fornybar-investering-noensinne/346695 Statoil gjør sin største fornybar-investering noensinne]</ref> is in development 35 km north-east of the point, designed with 60 [[Siemens Wind Power]] 6 MW gearless turbines.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cleantechnica.com/2016/04/26/siemens-awarded-385-mw-offshore-wind-order-arkona-wind-farm/ |title=Siemens Awarded 385 MW Offshore Wind Order For Arkona Wind Farm|work=[[CleanTechnica]]|access-date=27 April 2016}}</ref>
{{clear}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Burgwall Arkona.jpg|Cape Arkona from the air
File:Kap Arkona 1.jpg|View from the navigation tower
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Pomerania during the Early Middle Ages]]
* [[Pomerania during the Late Middle Ages]]
* [[Conversion of Pomerania]]
* [[Rugii|Rugii (Germanic Tribe)]]
* [[Rani (Slavic tribe)]]
* [[Principality of Rügen]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Literature ==
* Stefan Best: ''Geheime Bunkeranlagen der DDR'', Motorbuchverlag, Stuttgart, {{ISBN|3-613-02332-6}}
* Peter Feist: ''Der Burgwall am Kap Arkona'', Kai Homilius Verlag, Berlin, 1995, {{ISBN|3-931121-00-3}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Cape Arkona}}
* {{wikivoyage-inline|Cape Arkona}}
* [http://www.kap-arkona.de/ kap-arkona.de] Cape Arkona page of the municipality of Putgarten
* {{LBMV SWW|kap+arkona}}
* [http://www.wizlaw.de/html/1__gardvogteien.html Die Gardvogteien Wîtov/Wittow und Jâsmund/Jasmund] Website with information about Arkona
* {{cite web|author=Holger Vonberg |url=http://www.ostsee-zeitung.de/archiv.phtml?Param=DB-Artikel&ID=1986024 |title=Unterirdisches Jubiläum am Kap |work=Ostsee-Zeitung |date=4 October 2005 |access-date=8 October 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927235628/http://www.ostsee-zeitung.de/archiv.phtml?Param=DB-Artikel&ID=1986024 |archive-date=27 September 2007 }}

{{Baltic emporia}}
{{Pomerania}}
{{Coord|54|40|35|N|13|26|16|E|region:DE-MV_type:landmark|display=title}}

{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Headlands of Germany|Arkona]]
[[Category:Geography of Rügen]]
[[Category:Putgarten]]
[[Category:Landforms of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern]]