Ruegen

R�gen is the largest German island. It is situated off the coast of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in the Baltic Sea. Area 935 km², population 73,000 (2001).

R�gen is also the name of a Kreis (district) of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, consisting of R�gen and the neighbouring islands of Hiddensee[?] and Ummanz[?]. Area 974 km², population 74,400 (2001). The district's capital is Bergen[?].

R�gen is mainly accessible by a bridge connecting the island with the city of Stralsund on the mainland. There are also ferry connections from Stralsund, Greifswald and Wolgast[?]. The island has some crowded tourist resorts along the eastern coast as well as quiet and lonely places in the west. There are three nature reserves extending at least partially on the island:

• Vorpommern Lagoon Area National Park (Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaft); the west coast of R�gen and the island of Hiddensee are parts of this large national park.
• Jasmund National Park; a small park including the famous chalk cliffs (K�nigsstuhl).
• Southeast R�gen Biosphere Reserve[?]; a nature reserve consisting of the peninsulas in the southeast.

R�gen was populated since about 4000 BC. In the 7th century Slavic peoples came to settle the place. Many traces of their life can be found today. R�gen became a Slavic principality with the political and religious centre in the temple castle at Cape Arkona, the northernmost point of R�gen. In 1168 the place was destroyed by Danish invaders. The now weakened principality became receptive to Christianisation. The Slavic time ended in 1325, when R�gen was conquered by the dukes of Pomerania.

R�gen was a part of Sweden from 1648 to 1815; afterwards it became a part of Prussia.

In 1816 the first bathing resort was founded (Putbus). Later more resorts were established, and R�gen remained the most famous holiday resort of Germany until World War II. In 1936 the bridge connecting R�gen with the mainland was constructed. The Nazis added a resort of outstanding ugliness: Prora[?], planned by the Kraft durch Freude ("Strength through joy") organisation, which aimed to occupy people's free time. However, Prora was never completed.

R�gen regained its status as a holiday island after the German reunification; now it has surpassed Sylt as the most popular German island again.

Towns on the island of R�gen: Bergen[?], Sassnitz[?], Putbus[?], Garz[?].