Frisian Islands (frĭzh`ən), chain of low-lying islands, off the coasts of the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark, in the North Sea. The West Frisian Islands, belonging to the Netherlands, are off the shores of North Holland, Friesland, and Groningen provs. and include the islands of Texel, Vlieland, Terschelling, and Ameland. The East Frisian Islands, belonging to Germany, are east of the mouth of the Ems and include Norderney and Borkum. The North Frisian Islands, off the coast of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, and S Jutland, Denmark, include Sylt Sylt (zĭlt, Ger. zült), island (1994 pop. 5,543), 36 sq mi (93 sq km), Schleswig-Holstein, N Germany, in the North Sea.
..... Click the link for more information. , Föhr Föhr (för), island, 32 sq mi (83 sq km), Schleswig-Holstein, N Germany, in the North Sea, one of the North Frisian Islands.
..... Click the link for more information. , and Rømø Rømø (röm`ö'), island (1992 pop.
..... Click the link for more information. . Fishing and stock raising are pursued on most of the Frisian Islands. Many bathing resorts are also there.

Frisian Islands

Chain of islands, North Sea. They extend 3 to 20 mi (5 to 32 km) off the northern European mainland, along the Dutch and German coasts and the southern part of Denmark's Jutland peninsula. Although they form a single physical feature, it is customary to subdivide them into the West Frisian Islands (held by The Netherlands), East Frisian Islands (Germany), and North Frisian Islands (Germany and Denmark). After the North Sea established a southwestern outlet to the Atlantic about 7,000–5,000 BC, its southeasterly shore probably coincided with the present curve of the Frisians. Periodic subsidence, storms, and flooding have since produced this long chain of islands separated from the mainland by a narrow belt of shallow waters and tidal mud flats. The Dutch and German governments have spent large sums to protect the islands' seaward coasts and reclaim the land for farming. The beaches and resorts attract many tourists.