Oman’s unique habitat By Talib Suleiman
Oman has been described as “the secret of
Al Zakwani
the Middle East”. The description itself is
important sea trade route in the world between
instructive because it expresses some of the
the Gulf and the Indian Ocean, Oman is also
fascinating phenomena that only Oman
interwoven by the old north-south and east-
boasts. Situated in the south-eastern corner
west overland trans-Arabian caravan routes.
of the Arabian Peninsula, the Sultanate of
As well as dominating the oldest and most
The landscape of Oman is strikingly varied
Oman has been popular as an oasis of peace
and beautiful: cool, lofty mountains cut by
and tolerance. Its 3,165km coastline runs
deep gorges, simmering hot gravel planes,
along the Arabian Sea, from the entrance of
golden, high sand dunes and grey slate flats
the Indian Ocean in the far south-west to the
which attract tourists and geologists alike.
Sea of Oman and Musandam, where it over looks the strategic Strait of Hormuz at the
Modern state
entrance to the Gulf.
The Sultanate is a modern state and its admini
From the snowfalls of Al Jebal Akhdar to x An endangered green turtle on the beach at Ras al-Jinz. xv Oman’s rich and varied geography on display at Wadi Suwayh.
strative divisions are among its best features.
the mountain peak of the Jebel Shams, the
Oman’s modern Renaissance, now 47 years old,
Sultanate of Oman hosts a few of nature’s
has managed what must have once seemed
wonders. One is located on the beaches of
unimaginable but which has been achieved as
Ras al-Jinz. Here, endangered green turtles
a harvest of conscious, insightful leadership:
are allowed to maintain their own habitat.
a state of progress, prosperity and opportunity
42 O m a n ’ s u n i q u e h a b i t a t
