Ameland is one of several Friesland islands found in the Netherlands and in Germany.  Ferries take cars and people to the islands, which have became major tourist destinations. These islands have multiple ecosystems of mud flats, beaches, dunes, polders, and pikes. Originally, farmers built their farmhouses on earth mounds called terpen; later these were raised and enlarged and then the islands were protected from floods by dikes. Click a picture to see a larger view.