Farasan Islands

Coordinates: 16°48′00″N 41°51′00″E / 16.80000°N 41.85000°E / 16.80000; 41.85000
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
See also:
List of World Heritage sites in Saudi Arabia
Farasan Islands
Native name:
جزر فرسان
UTC+3
)
Postal code88XXX

The Farasan Islands (

transliterated: Juzur Farasān) are a small group of coral islands approximately 40 km off the coast of Jizan in the Red Sea, belonging to Saudi Arabia.[1]

The government provides free ferry rides twice a day to Farasan Islands from Jizan Port. The largest island of the archipelago is Farasan Island; others include Sajid Island and Zufaf Island. The islands are a popular tourist destination. In recent years the Saudi government has tried to increase the tourism quality and worth (as part of a larger tourism drive in the country) of the Islands in order to attract even more visitors.[2]

History

In the 1st century AD, the islands were known as Portus Ferresanus. A Latin inscription dating from 144 AD has been found on the island which attests to the construction of a

Islamization
.

Climate

The climate in the Farasan archipelago is characterised by a long hot season (April–October) and a short mild one (November–March). In the long dry period, high temperatures are usually dominant. The mean annual temperature is 30 °C. Furthermore, the mean relative humidity in winter ranges from 70% to 80% and in summer between 65% and 78%. The highest rainfall occurs in April and the precipitation is generally unpredictable in the southern part of Red Sea.[4]

Climate data for Farasan Islands
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 30
(86) 		31
(88) 		33
(91) 		35
(95) 		37
(99) 		39
(102) 		40
(104) 		39
(102) 		38
(100) 		36
(97) 		34
(93) 		31
(88) 		35
(95)
Daily mean °C (°F) 25.5
(77.9) 		26.5
(79.7) 		28
(82) 		30
(86) 		32
(90) 		34
(93) 		35
(95) 		34
(93) 		33
(91) 		30.5
(86.9) 		28.5
(83.3) 		26.5
(79.7) 		30.3
(86.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 21
(70) 		22
(72) 		23
(73) 		25
(77) 		27
(81) 		29
(84) 		30
(86) 		29
(84) 		28
(82) 		25
(77) 		23
(73) 		22
(72) 		25
(78)
Source: https://www.weather2travel.com/climate-guides/saudi-arabia/farasan-islands.php

Nature

See also: List of protected areas of Saudi Arabia
Beach in Farasan Islands

The Farasan Island Marine Sanctuary is a protected area. It is home to the

migratory birds from Europe.[5] Oceanic animals include manta rays,[6] whale sharks,[7] and several species of sea turtles including endangered and critically endangered green and hawksbill turtles, dugongs,[6] and several species of dolphins and whales with occasional visits by others such as orcas.[8][9][10][11]

Economy

After a French engineer investigated petroleum seeps on the islands in 1912, a 75-year concession was granted to the Red Sea oilfields.[12] At the time, the Farasan Islands supported a small fishing industry.[13]

Tourism and fishing also play a role in the economy. Farasan Island is connected to Jezan port by ferry.

Gallery

  • Al-Rifai House
    Al-Rifai House
  • Al-Rifai House From the Inside
    Al-Rifai House From the Inside
  • Details of Al-Rifai House in Farasan Islands
    Details of Al-Rifai House in Farasan Islands
  • Ottoman fort in Farasan Islands
    Ottoman fort in Farasan Islands
  • Al-Najdi Mosque in Farasan Islands
    Al-Najdi Mosque in Farasan Islands
  • Farasan Islands Beach
    Farasan Islands Beach
  • Farasan Islands from the International Space Station
    Farasan Islands from the International Space Station
  • Ras Shada in Farasan Islands
    Ras Shada in Farasan Islands
  • Seagulls in Farasan Islands Beaches
    Seagulls in Farasan Islands Beaches

References

  1. ^ "Farasan Islands, Saudi Arabia". www.plantdiversityofsaudiarabia.info. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
  2. ^ "A Trip to Farasan Islands".
  3. ^ "New inscriptions from Saudi Arabia and the extent of Roman rule along the Red Sea". Tabulae Geographicae. March 31, 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
  4. ^ "The climate and the Farasan Archipelago topography | E-Flora of the Farasan archipelago".
  5. ^ "JAZAN PROVINCE – General Information". Archived from the original on 2017-08-20. Retrieved 2017-04-13.
  6. ^ a b Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation. 2006. Science Diary – 8 May 2006. Retrieved on April 14, 2017
  7. ^ "Farasan Islands". Archived from the original on 2017-04-14. Retrieved 2017-04-13.
  8. ^ Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation. 2006. Science Diary – 7 May 2006. Retrieved on April 14, 2017
  9. ^ Hoyt E. 2012. Marine Protected Areas for Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises: A World Handbook for Cetacean Habitat Conservation and Planning. The Routledge. Retrieved on April 14, 2017
  10. ^ Babbington J.. 2013. Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin – Offshore Farasan Islands. Birds of Saudi Arabia. Retrieved on April 14, 2017
  11. ^ علي رويني 2.654.258. 2017. ظهور الحوت القاتل في جزيرة فرسان - جزيرة سلوبه يعرف عنه اصطياد فرائسه من الشاطىء المقطع الاول. YouTube. Retrieved on April 14, 2017
  12. ^ Prothero, G.W. (1920). Arabia. London: H.M. Stationery Office. p. 99.
  13. ^ Prothero, G.W. (1920). Arabia. London: H.M. Stationery Office. p. 18.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Farasan.
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