Farasan Island (Arabic: جزيرة فرسان; transliterated: Jazyrat Farasan) is the largest island of the Farasan Islands, in the Red Sea. It is located some 50 km (31 mi) offshore from Jizan, the far southwestern part of Saudi Arabia and is among the largest islands in the Red Sea.[1] It is located at 16°42′N 41°00′E / 16.7°N 41.0°E. The main town on the island is Farasan. The Farasan island marine sanctuary has been created around the island to protect biodiversity.
Farasan | |
|---|---|
  Farasan Location in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia | |
| Coordinates: 16°42′21″N 41°59′0″E / 16.70583°N 41.98333°E | |
| Country |  Saudi Arabia |
| Province | Jizan Province |
| Area | |
• Total | 686 km2 (265 sq mi) |
| Population (2010) | |
• Total | 20,000 |
| Time zone | UTC+3 |
Farasan General Hospital
editThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (January 2011) |
Farasan General Hospital was built in September 1986 by the Saudi government. Chaired under Dr. Ahmed (MBBS, Neurosurgeon), it has 35 doctors for various specialization. Advanced facilities, including x-rays and ultrasounds, are available.
Kunnah
editKunnah is a festive fishing season; the word is derived from kana'ad, the Arabic word for kingfish. Kunnah season starts at the beginning of summer and finishes with the end of June. It witnesses an abundance of different types of fish including but not limited to the kingfish (Scomberomorus cavalla) and parrotfish (Hipposcarus harid). The fishing seasons combined represent 35% of fish production in the Red Sea and 20% of the Saudi Arabia’s fish production.[1]
During the festival, Jazan looks like a floating city due to the large number of fishing boats, and the lights from the ships illuminate the sea at night.[citation needed] The Jazan region produces about 11,000 metric tons (24,000,000 lb) of fish annually with over 3,200 fishermen working along the coasts of 17 fishing ports.[citation needed] It uses about 1,657 boats, resulting in the investment in fisheries and helping preserving the fishing profession.[1]
Jizan to Farasan
editThe distance between Jizan and Farasan is 50 kilometres (31 mi). Both ferries and flukas (local small boats) are used on this route.
Ferry passage is free. The ferry carries 35–40 cars and can accommodate about 800 people. New ferries were put into service in 2006, cutting travel time between Jizan and Farasan from three hours to one. There are two ferry trips each way daily (Farasan to Jizan at 7:30 AM and 03:30 PM, Jizan to Farasan also at 7:30 AM and 03:30 PM, as of November 2019[update]).
The flukas carry up to twelve passengers. The flukas take an hour to make the crossing and operate by hire rather than on a fixed schedule, with at a cost of SR50 per passenger with a minimum charge of SR350 (as of 2020[update]).
References
edit- ^ a b c "Saudi Arabia's Farasan Island celebrates its annual fishing season". Arab News. 2022-05-04. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
External links
edit- Mohsin Tariq. "Virtual tour of Farasan Island". Archived from the original on 2018-01-06. Retrieved 2013-07-21. (in English)
- Farasan Islands official website (in Arabic)
- Erik Bjurström (January–February 2000). "Dreaming of Farasan". Saudi Aramco World. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved September 26, 2012. (in English)
- "Farasan Island, Jizan". Splendid Arabia. Archived from the original on June 14, 2012. Retrieved September 26, 2012. (in English)
- Photo of the beach on Farasan Island
- Photo of Farasan Island's antiquities
- Photo of Farasan Island's antiquities