One of the most notable landmarks in historic Cuxhaven, the 30-meter-tall (98-foot-tall) Kugelbake (Ball Beacon) stands at the point where the Elbe ends and the North Sea begins. Similar structures have stood in the same spot since 1703—sometimes a fire was lit inside to help guide ships in and out of the river mouth. Since 1913, the Kugelbake has been featured on the city’s coat of arms and it is today a protected monument.
