terusan

Terusan is a term used in Indonesian and Malay to refer to a waterway, canal, or navigable channel that connects bodies of water. In addition to its literal meaning, the word can also denote a continuation or progression in a figurative sense, depending on context. In geographic and technical usage, it most often designates a channel that enables passage or drainage.

In geography and engineering, a terusan may be natural, such as a river or stream widened for navigation, or artificial, such as a canal dug to shorten travel routes, support irrigation, or drain land. Artificial terusan typically involve features like locks or gates, dredging to maintain depth, and systems for managing water levels and flow. Terusan play a key role in transportation, agriculture, flood control, and urban planning, reflecting the needs of a region.

Usage varies by language community. In Indonesia, terusan is commonly used in phrases such as terusan irigasi (irrigation canal) and terusan drainase (drainage canal), and in Malay contexts it serves a similar function. The term also appears in the names of well-known waterways, with Terusan Suez referring to the Suez Canal and Terusan Panama referring to the Panama Canal in Indonesian and Malay usage.