  M16 (the Eagle Nebula) is a striking star forming region, with a complex
morphology of gas and dust sculpted by the massive stars in NGC 6611. Detailed
studies of the famous ``elephant trunks'' dramatically increased our
understanding of the massive star feedback into the parent molecular cloud. A
rich young stellar population (2 - 3 Myr) has been identified, from massive
O-stars down to substellar masses. Deep into the remnant molecular material,
embedded protostars, Herbig-Haro objects and maser sources bear evidence of
ongoing star formation in the nebula, possibly triggered by the massive cluster
members. M 16 is a excellent template for the study of star formation under the
hostile environment created by massive O-stars. This review aims at providing
an observational overview not only of the young stellar population but also of
the gas remnant of the star formation process.
