An inselberg is a geological formation characterized by a mountain or hill that rises abruptly from its otherwise flat surroundings. Resembling an island emerging from the land, the name “inselberg” is derived from the German words insel (meaning “island”) and berg (meaning “mountain”). The term insel shares its roots with the Latin word insula, which also means “island” and is believed to have Indo-European origins. On the other hand, berg can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European word berg, signifying “high” and giving rise to the -burg suffix seen in city names like Hamburg. The term “inselberg” was first coined in 1898 and saw a peak in usage in 1975.
