Farasan Islands
Farasan Islands viewed from the International Space Station
The Farasan Islands (Arabic: جزر فرسان; transliterated: Juzur Farasān) are a large coral-island group in the Red Sea, belonging to Saudi Arabia. The islands are located some 40 km offshore from Jizan, in the far southwestern part of the country, at 16°48′N 41°54′E / 16.800°N 41.900°E / 16.800; 41.900Coordinates: 16°48′N 41°54′E / 16.800°N 41.900°E / 16.800; 41.900. The largest island of the archipelago is Farasan Island; others include Sajid Island and Zufaf Island.
Contents
1 Climate
2 Nature
3 Economy
4 See also
5 References
6 External links
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.[1]
| Climate data for Farasan Island [2] | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 30 (86) | 31 (88) | 33 (91) | 35 (95) | 37 (99) | 39 (102) | 39 (102) | 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) | 34.5 (94.1) | 34 (93) | 33 (91) | 30.5 (86.9) | 28.5 (83.3) | 26.5 (79.7) | 30.3 (86.4) |
| Average low °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
The "Farasan island marine sanctuary" is a protected area and were home to the extinct Arabian gazelle and, in winter, migratory birds from Europe.[3] Oceanic animals include manta rays,[4]whale sharks,[5] and several species of sea turtles including endangered and critically endangered green and hawksbill turtles, dugongs,[4] and several species of dolphins and whales with occasional visits by others such as orcas.[6][7][8][9]
Economy
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 Roman garrison. It is believed that the islands may have been attached to the province of Arabia Felix, before being transferred to Aegyptus some time before 144 AD. [10]
After a French engineer investigated petroleum seeps on the islands in 1912, a 75-year concession was granted to the Red Sea Oilfields.[11] At the time, the Farasan Islands supported a small fishing industry.[12]
Tourism and fishing also play a role in the economy. Farasan Island is connected to Jezan port by ferry.
See also
- Greater Yemen
References
^ http://ffa.myspecies.info/node/8
^ https://www.weather2travel.com/climate-guides/saudi-arabia/farasan-islands.php
^ JAZAN PROVINCE – General Information
^ ab Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation. 2006. Science Diary – 8 May 2006. Retrieved on April 14, 2017
^ Farasan Islands
^ Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation. 2006. Science Diary – 7 May 2006. Retrieved on April 14, 2017
^ 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
^ Babbington J.. 2013. Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin – Offshore Farasan Islands. Birds of Saudi Arabia. Retrieved on April 14, 2017
^ 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
^ New inscriptions from Saudi Arabia and the extent of Roman rule along the Red Sea.2014.[1]. Retrieved on May 6, 2017
^ Prothero, G.W. (1920). Arabia. London: H.M. Stationery Office. p. 99..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
^ Prothero, G.W. (1920). Arabia. London: H.M. Stationery Office. p. 18.
External links
 | Wikimedia Commons has media related to Farasan. |
- Saudi Aramco World: Dreaming of Farasan
Farasan Island, a diver's paradise, Splendid Arabia: A travel site with photos and routes
Islands of Saudi Arabia | |
|---|---|
| Red Sea |
|
| Persian Gulf |
|
 Islands of Saudi Arabia at commons | |
