kusten

Kusten is the definite form of the Swedish noun kust, meaning the coast or shoreline. In Swedish usage, kusten refers to the interface between land and sea and can denote the coastline of a particular region, country, or a generic coastal zone. The term is used in geography, travel writing, and everyday language.

The Swedish kust derives from Old Norse kustr and is cognate with similar words in other Germanic languages, such as German Küste, Dutch kust, and English coast. The form kusten reflects Swedish definite article usage and its role in denoting a specific coast.

Coasts are dynamic environments shaped by waves, tides, and currents. They feature beaches, dunes, cliffs, estuaries, and deltas, and host specialized ecosystems in the intertidal zone, salt marshes, and mangroves in suitable climates. Sediment transport and sea-level change gradually alter coastlines over time.

Coastal areas support major human activities including settlements, fishing, harbors, and tourism. They are vulnerable to erosion, flooding, and storms, and many regions implement coastal defenses, land-use planning, and habitat restoration. Climate change accelerates sea-level rise and extreme events, increasing the need for adaptation and risk management.

Examples of coasts include the Baltic Sea coast, the North Sea coast, and the Atlantic coast of various countries. The term kusten remains primarily used in Swedish-language contexts.