Arabian-Persian Gulf Coastal Plain Desert
Arabian-Persian Gulf Coastal Plain Desert | |
---|---|
Ecology | |
Realm | Palearctic |
Biome | Deserts and xeric shrublands |
Geography | |
Area | 72,801 km2 (28,109 sq mi) |
Country | Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Iraq |
Coordinates | 26°45′N 49°15′E / 26.75°N 49.25°E |
The Arabian-Persian Gulf Coastal Plain Desert ecoregion (WWF ID: PA1323) covers the desert coastal plain of the northwest Persian Gulf, that is, on the northeast Arabian Peninsula, from Kuwait in the north to a small coastal sector in the United Arab Emirates to the southeast.[1][2][3][4][5]
Location and description
Bounded on the east by the
The geology of the plains are marine sediments laid down in the Tertiary (66 to 3 million years ago), when the region was intermittently submerged. Because of limestone, the sands of the ecoregion are whiter than those of the other deserts of the Arabian Peninsula, which are mostly igneous and metamorphic.[4] Along the coast there are salt-flat depressions known as sabkhas.
Climate
The climate of the ecoregion is
Flora and fauna
95% of the territory is bare ground or sparse vegetation. The vegetation is small shrubs, grass
On the coast, the inter-tidal mudflats and islands are important breeding and resting habitat for migratory birds. The vulnerable Socotra cormorant (
Protected areas
Almost 4% of the ecoregion is officially protected.[3] These protected areas include:
Conservation and threats
Gulf wars
In January 1991 during the Gulf War, Iraqi forces released about 1.7 million m³ (11 million barrels) of oil from storage tanks and tankers directly into the Persian Gulf. In February, they also destroyed 1,164 Kuwaiti oil wells. It took nine months to extinguish these oil fires. These oil spills contaminated 1,000 km (620 mi) of Persian Gulf coast. The result of the pollution was the death of thousands of water birds and serious damage to the Persian Gulf's aquatic ecosystem, particularly shrimp, sea turtles, dugongs, whales, dolphins and fish. The damaged wells also released 10 million m3 (60 million barrels) of oil into the desert and formed lakes (total surface of 49 square kilometers). All this damage was done to impede Coalition forces.
Just before the 2003 Iraq War, they also set fire to various oil fields.[8][9][10]
References
- ^ "Persian Gulf desert and semi-desert". World Wildlife Federation. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
- ^ "Map of Ecoregions 2017". Resolve, using WWF data. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
- ^ a b c "Persian Gulf desert and semi-desert". Digital Observatory for Protected Areas. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Persian Gulf desert and semi-desert". The Encyclopedia of Earth. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
- ^ "Arabian-Persian Gulf Coastal Plain Desert". One Earth. Retrieved Jan 11, 2024.
- ^ Kottek, M.; Grieser, J.; Beck, C.; Rudolf, B.; Rubel, F. (2006). "World Map of Koppen-Geiger Climate Classification Updated" (PDF). Gebrüder Borntraeger 2006. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
- ^ "Dataset - Koppen climate classifications". World Bank. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
- ^ "Boots & Coots tames Iraq's oil well fires during war" (PDF). iadc.org. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
- ^ "CNN.com - UK: Iraq torches seven oil wells - Mar. 21, 2003". Edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 2022-06-10.
- ^ "Kuwait Oil Company". kockw.com. Archived from the original on 19 May 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2022.