Insel

Insel is the German term for an island, a landmass entirely surrounded by water. Islands occur in oceans, seas, rivers, and lakes and vary from tiny islets to large continental landmasses.

Geological origins of islands are diverse. Continental islands are fragments of a continent separated by rising waters. Oceanic islands primarily form through volcanic activity or hotspot volcanism, often far from continental margins. Coral islands develop from the growth of corals on sinking volcanic bases, eventually forming atolls. Sedimentary and barrier islands result from the accumulation and reorganization of sediments in coastal environments.

Islands often host distinctive ecosystems due to geographic isolation, which can lead to high levels of endemism. They can be particularly vulnerable to invasive species, habitat disturbance, and climate change, including sea-level rise and extreme weather. Human presence ranges from uninhabited islets to densely populated islands with economies based on fishing, tourism, agriculture, and services.

In governance and geography, islands may be individual states or parts of larger countries. The term island-state or Inselstaat denotes a political entity whose territory consists largely of islands. Maritime boundaries and exclusive economic zones (EEZ) are important for islands with surrounding waters.

Examples often cited include Greenland, the world’s largest island by some definitions; Madagascar and Borneo as large continental islands; Iceland as a volcanic island; and numerous coral atolls in the Pacific. The concept of an Insel also appears in cultural and linguistic contexts, where islands may hold particular symbolic or historical meanings in national narratives and toponymy.