eiland

Eiland is the Dutch word for an island, a landmass entirely surrounded by water and smaller than a continent. In geography and everyday usage, the term covers both natural islands and land created or expanded by human activity. Islands occur in oceans, seas, rivers, and lakes and vary widely in size, shape, and geology.

The word is of Germanic origin and is cognate with West Frisian eilân and the German Insel, and with the English isle. In Dutch, eiland commonly appears in place names and descriptions to denote a land area bounded by water.

Natural islands form through processes such as sediment deposition in rivers and deltas, tectonic uplift, volcanic activity, or coral growth. Oceanic and coastal islands may develop from lava flows or reef building, while river islands arise from the accumulation of sediments carried by currents. Artificial islands are created by dredging, reclamation, and land‑filling works and are used for housing, industry, or transport infrastructure.

Humans accommodate and manage islands in many ways. Settlements, agriculture, fishing, and tourism are common uses. Water‑management systems, such as dikes, levees, and pumping stations, help protect island communities from flooding, while environmental protections seek to safeguard island ecosystems from erosion and invasive species.

Ecologically, islands host specialized communities and can show unique patterns of biodiversity. Their isolation can limit species richness but also promote endemism, while they are often vulnerable to climate change, sea‑level rise, and human disturbance. See also Island, List of islands.