Qeshm

The island of Qeshm جزیرهقشم is located in the strait of Ormoz, on the southern part of the Iran, in the east of the Persian Gulf. With its 100 kilometers length, it is the largest Iranian island and the largest island of the Persian Gulf. It has the largest salt cave of the world. The strategic situation of the island on the access to the Persian Gulf by the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Oman because of the battles for its possession. The Arab name of the island is rear dir=rtl الجزيرةالطويلة, which means " the island longue".

Geography

Topography

The 109 kilometers broad island of oblong form and, of a surface of 1295 km ², is located by, separated from the Iranian coast by the strait of Clarence. It is a small tree from 3 to 6 meters height.

The mangrove is the natural habitat of migratory birds, reptiles and fish as well as certain species of Arthropode S and bivalvular. One finds there will hérons, of the flamingos, the pelicans, the eagles, the tortoises and the watery Serpents. She plays a big role in the process of reproduction of fish in the Persian Gulf.

Thanks to the rare species of lizard Bunopus tuberculatus and Eremias brevirostris, like with some species rare of birds coming from the mangrove of Hara and of the salt sea of Mehrakan, part of the island is a Réserve of biosphere of UNESCO. The strait of Khuran is besides a site Ramsar.

History

Mentioned by Marco Polo and noticed by Vasco de Gama for its colonial potential, the island of Qeshm was at the 12th century an appendix important of the kingdom of Hormuz.

The island of Qeshm was saved by the Mongolian invasions, but the Portuguese built important military fortifications there as of 1507 and remained there until the time of Chah Abbas. They were driven out by it in 1622 with the assistance of the British navy. The English explorer William Baffin was mortally wounded on this occasion.

During the three first Wars anglo-Dutchwomen, the fleet of the Compagnie Dutchwoman of the Eastern Indies attacked the island regularly. The Dutch occupied it in 1645, but they left it for Kharg with the more bearable climate because less wet.

After the death of Nader Shah in 1747, the Iranian domination on the Persian Gulf was being reduced and of the expansionist Arab tribes ended up conquering the island in 1760.

In order to stop the hegemony of Iran on the Persian Gulf, the British contruisirent in 1820 a fort with Qeshm as well as a naval base with Basaidu, named Bassadore in the British reports/ratios of the time, in 1882. That entered within the framework of agreements with the Arab States of the gulf which were closed at the time. The British then moved - still because of the climate - these military installations with Kharg.

When the British restored the island in Iran in 1935, this one became a bone of contention between Iran and the Arab States located on other side of the gulf, more especially when oil layers were discovered.

The right to the extraction of oil went hand in hand with the fight for the maritime borders. The decrees Othoman S of 1914 and Persians of 1934 fixed a zone of six miles. Starting from 1960, a zone of twelve miles was accepted unanimously.

After the Islamic revolution of 1979, Qeshm took importance until being declared Free zone in 1989.

The July 3rd 1988, a Airbus A300 of the company Iran Air (flight IR655) was cut down with 2,5 kilometers of the southern part of the island by a missile of the American marine , causing the death of 290 people, including 66 children.

The November 27th 2005, a fort Earthquake took place on the island, a magnitude of 6,0 on the scale of Richter, causing tens of victims. The ground again trembled on the island the January 25th 2006, this time with a magnitude of 3,6.

The January 17th 2006, the discovery of the largest salt cave in the world was made public, two airports (the Aéroport of Qeshm of the South and the Aéroport Dayrestan), as well as tourist reception facilities. The island is the subject of a development plan since its promotion with the row of Free zone. This plan includes inter alia the installation of an international airport.

Agriculture

On the rocky and almost sterile ground of the island, one cultivates Datte S and melons, where the Irrigation is possible. Fishing, the breeding and the related economic activities are also a source of revenue for the local population.

Energy

In addition to its oil layers, the island is equipped with two tanks of Natural gas, " Gurzin" and " Salakh".

Tourism

One can visit the following monuments:

the old Portuguese fortress, provided with remainder two ramparts and flanked of a tower to each of the four corners. There remains inside good number of old rusted guns.
water cisterns (Bibi and Kharboz).
the old city of Kharboz.
sanctuaries of Bibi Maryam and Seyyed Mozaffar.

Defense

According to American sources, cruise missiles are based on the island with an aim of controlling the sea traffic in the strait of Ormoz.

Cultural life

The institute of higher education of Qeshm delivers MBA Université Carleton, in partnership with the latter.

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