FRISIAN ISLANDS, a chain of islands, lying from 3 to 20 m. from the mainland, and stretching from the Zuider Zee east and north as far as Jutland, along the coasts of Holland and Ger many. They are divided into three groups :—(I ) The West Fris ian, (2) the East Frisian, and (3) the North Frisian.
The islands mark the outer fringe of the former continental coast-line, and are separated from the mainland by shallows, known as wadden. Notwithstanding the protection afforded by sand-dunes and artificial embankments, the Frisian islands are slowly disappearing through marine erosion. Many of the Frisian legends and folk-songs deal with submerged villages and hamlets. The German and Dutch governments annually expend large sums for the protection of the islands, and in some cases the erosion on the seaward side is counterbalanced by the accretion of land on the inner side, fine sandy beaches being formed well suited for sea-bathing, which attracts many visitors in summer. The inhabitants support themselves by seafaring, pilotage, grazing of cattle and sheep, fishing and a little agriculture, chiefly potato growing.
The West Frisian islands belong to the king dom of the Netherlands, and embrace Texel (71 sq.m.), Vlieland (19 sq.m.), Terschelling (41 sq.m.), Ameland (23 sq.m.), Schier monnikoog (19 sq.m), as well as the much smaller islands of Boschplaat and Rottum, which are practically uninhabited. The northern end of Texel is called Eierland, or "island of eggs," in reference to the large number of sea-birds' eggs which are found there. It was joined to Texel by a sand-dike in 1629-1630, and is now undistinguishable from the main island. Texel was already separated from the mainland in the 8th century, but remained a Frisian province and countship, which once extended as far as Alkmaar in North Holland, until it came into the possession of the counts of Holland.
The island of Terschelling once formed a separate lordship, but was sold to Holland. As early as the beginning of the 9th century Ameland was a lordship belonging to the Cammingha family, who held immediately of the emperor and in recognition of their inde pendence the Amelanders were in 1369 declared to be neutral in the fighting between Holland and Friesland, while Cromwell made the same declaration in 1654. The castle of the Camminghas in Ballum remained until 1829. This island is joined to the mainland of Friesland by a stone dike built in 1873 to promote the deposit of mud. Schiermonnikoog has a village and a lighthouse. Rottum was once the property of the ancient abbey at Rottum, 8 m. N. of Groningen, of which there are slight remains.
The East Frisian group belongs to Germany and comprises Borkum (I 2 sq.m.), Memmert, Juist (21 sq.m.), Norderney (52 sq.m.), Baltrum, Langeoog (8 sq.m.), Spiekeroog (4 sq.m.), and Wangeroog (2 sq.m.). All these islands are visited for sea-bathing. Many have lighthouses and lifeboat stations. In the beginning of the 18th century Wangeroog comprised eight times its present area. Borkum and Juist are two surviving frag ments of the original island of Borkum (computed at 38o sq.m.), known to Drusus as Fabaria, and to Pliny as Burchana, which was rent asunder by the sea in I170. Neuwerk and Scharhorn are sit uated off the mouth of the Elbe, the former contains some marsh land protected by dikes and has two lighthouses and a lifeboat station.
About the year 1250 the area of the North Frisian islands was estimated at 1,065 sq.m.; by 1850 this had diminished to only 105 sq.m. This group embraces the islands of Nordstrand (174 sq.m.), which up to 1634 formed one larger island with the adjoining Pohnshallig and Nordstrandisch-Moor; Pellworm (164 sq.m.), protected by a circle of dikes and con nected by steamer with Husum on the mainland; Amrum (Io2 sq.m.) ; Fohr (32 sq.m.) ; Sylt (38 sq.m.) ; Rom (16 sq.m.), with several villages, the principal of which is Kirkeby; Fano (21 sq.m.) ; and Heligoland (4 sq.m.) . With the exception of Fano and Rom which are Danish, these islands belong to Ger many. In the North Frisian group there are also several smaller islands called Halligen, rising generally only a few feet above the level of the sea.
