Westerheversand Lighthouse in Westerhever, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany (© bluejayphoto/Getty Images)

Rising above the salt marshes along Germany's North Sea coast, the Westerheversand Lighthouse is instantly recognizable thanks to its distinctive red-and-white stripes. Built between 1906 and 1908, the lighthouse has stood as an icon on the Eiderstedt Peninsula for more than a century, guiding ships through the waters of the North Sea. Today, it remains one of northern Germany's best-known coastal landmarks. Visitors who climb its 157 steps are rewarded with sweeping views of the surrounding scenery.