Qeshm

Coordinates: 26°41′43″N 55°37′06″E / 26.69528°N 55.61833°E / 26.69528; 55.61833

Qeshm

Native name: قشم
Map of Qeshm Island and surroundings, in French
Qeshm
Geography
Location	Strait of Hormuz
Coordinates	26°41′43″N 55°37′06″E / 26.69528°N 55.61833°E / 26.69528; 55.61833
Area	1,491 km2 (576 sq mi)
Length	135 km (83.9 mi)
Width	40 km (25 mi)
Administration
Iran
Province	Hormozgān
County	Qeshm
Bakhsh	Central
Largest settlement	Qeshm (pop. 26 807)
Demographics
Population	117,774 (2011)
Pop. density	67.07 /km2 (173.71 /sq mi)
Ethnic groups	Primarily Qeshmi, Minabi, Kumzari and Bandri Persian speaking Iranians and Iranian Arabs

Qeshm (Persian: قشم‎‎, Persian pronunciation: [ɢeʃm]), formerly also known as Kishm, is an Iranian island in the Strait of Hormuz, separated from the mainland by the Clarence Strait/Khuran in the Persian Gulf (26°50′N 56°0′E / 26.833°N 56.000°E / 26.833; 56.000).

Geography

Qeshm from space, August 2000

Qeshm Island is located a few kilometers off the southern coast of Iran (Persian Gulf), opposite the port cities of Bandar Abbas and Bandar Khamir. The island, which hosts a 300-square-kilometre (116-square-mile) free zone jurisdiction, is 135 km long, and lies strategically in the Strait of Hormuz, just 60 kilometres (37 miles) from the Omani port of Khasab, and about 180 kilometres (112 miles) from the UAE Port Rashid. The island, at its widest point, located near the center of the island, spans 40 kilometres (25 miles). Similarly, at it narrowest point, the island spans 9.4 kilometres (5.8 miles). The island has a surface area of 1,491 square kilometres (576 square miles) and is 2.5 times the size of Bahrain. Qeshm city, located at the easternmost point of the island, is 22 kilometres (14 miles) from Bandar Abbas while the closest point of the island is but two kilometres (1 mile) from the mainland.

The average temperature on the island is approximately 27 °C (81 °F). The warmest months are June through August, and the coldest from October to January. The average rainfall is 183.2 mm (7 ³⁄₁₆ in).

The island comprises 59 towns and villages and the population was 117,774 at the 2011 Census. The local population is involved in fishing, dhow construction, trade and services. An additional 30,000 are involved in administrative and industrial workforce and students.

Plans have also been made to build a bridge to connect Qeshm with the rest of Iran.^[1][2]

History

Tomb stone in Portuguese castle, Qeshm

Historical records concerning the Qeshm island date far back into the pre-Islamic era. Names as Qeshm, Keshm, Kish and Tunb mark the lengthy stay of Ilamids in the area, several centuries BC. It is, apparently, the island called Alexandria or Aracia by Ptolemy (Book 6, Chap. IV), in the 2nd century CE and as Alexandria by Ammianus Marcellinus (xxiii.6.42) in the 4th century. On account of its strategic geopolitical situation, near the mouth of the Persian Gulf, it has been frequently attacked by invaders including Ilamids (Elamites), Umayyads, Abbasids as well as the Portuguese and the English. During Sassanian Empire administration the island was called Abarkawan.^[3] According to historical records, Qeshm Island has been famous as a trade and navigation center. Its economy flourished during the Dailamites and Buyid eras, as trade vessels sailed between Qeshm Island and China, India and Africa.

Explorer William Baffin was mortally wounded on Qeshm in 1622 during a battle against Portuguese forces who occupied the fort, known to the English as "Forte de Queixome".

Qeshm is also a supposed site of the Garden of Eden according to Cassells Bible.^[4]

Economy

Fishing is a leading occupation practiced by the inhabitants of the island. On what little cultivated land there is, dates and melons are grown. Salt is mined on the southeastern coast. Qeshm is famous for its wide range of ecotourist attractions such as the Hara marine forests. According to environmentalists, about 1.5% of the world birds and 25% of Iran's native birds annually migrate to the forests, which are the first national geo park in Iran. An ancient Portuguese fort, historic mosques, the Seyyed Mozaffar and Bibi Maryam shrines, and various ponds and mangrove forests are among the tourism attractions in the island, which lays across the azure waters of the Persian Gulf. Several domes, salty caves, the preserved area in Shibderaz Village where Hawksbill turtles hatch, as well as numerous docks and wharfs are among the tourist potentials of the island. The Nazz Islands are located at the south wing of Qeshm Island. Oysters, corals, colorful fishes and sea birds in these islands attract many tourists. It is possible to walk toward the island on soft and wet gravel through a gravel connection way between these islands and Qeshm at the time of the ebb.

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  Naaz Islands, sea bed in the time of the ebb

• 

  Sea bed at Naaz Islands

• 

  Oysters in the holes of the Sea bed, Naaz Islands

• 

  Dolphins in the water Strait between Qeshm and Hengam Islands.

In the 1st ten-year plan, in note 19, the law provided for the creation of free trade zones and three locations were identified as such in the year 1991. They were Kish Island, Qeshm Island and Chabahar. In the Iranian year 1369, equivalent to 1991 in the Gregorian calendar, the island was transformed into a "Trade and Industrial Free Area" with the goal of creating the largest Free Area between Europe and the Far East.^[5] To that end, Qeshm Island was granted considerable leeway to set its own policies, independent of the central government, which had often been seen as an impediment to growth in many sectors of the economy. However, the Island retains the advantages associated with its connection to the mainland, including the rights to explore and develop oil and gas opportunities.

• 

  Portuguese castle at Qeshm Island

• 

  Chahkouh Valley at Qeshm Island

• 

  Stars Valley at Qeshm Island

• 

  ChahKouh valley in Qeshm is made of Marl Sandstone which has holes created by the flow of rain water

• 

  Portuguese Castle of the Qeshm town (outside view)

• 

  Portuguese Castle of the Qeshm town (Inside view)

• 

  One of the cannons of Qeshm Portuguese castle

• 

Iran Air Flight 655

On July 3, 1988, an Iran Air Airbus A300 (Iran Air Flight 655) was shot down by a United States Navy guided missile cruiser USS Vincennes just south of the island, resulting in 290 civilian fatalities. The wreckage crashed 2.5 kilometers off Qeshm's southern coast.

Qeshm Island Underground Military Facility

On 20 January 2012, OSGEOINT established the completion of an underground military facility at Qeshm island which accordingly could house Iran's Ghadir-Nahang class submarines.^[6]

Economy, culture, and education

• Qeshm Institute of Higher Education
• Islamic Azad University of Medical Science Qeshm International Branch

See also

• Bandar Lengeh
• Hormozgān
• Qeshm Air
• 2005 Iran earthquake

References

• . الكوخردى ، محمد ، بن يوسف، (كُوخِرد حَاضِرَة اِسلامِيةَ عَلي ضِفافِ نَهر مِهران) الطبعة الثالثة ،دبى: سنة 199۷ للميلاد Mohammed Kookherdi (1997) Kookherd, an Islamic civil At Mehran river, third edition: Dubai
• . کامله،القاسمی، بنت شیخ عبدالله، (تاریخ لنجة) مکتبة دبي للتوزیع، الامارات: الطبعة الثانية عام ۱۹۹۳ للمیلاد
• . الوحیدی الخنجی، حسین بن علی بن احمد، «تاریخ لنجه» ، الطبعة الثانية دبی: دار الأمة للنشر والتوزیع، ۱۹۸۸ للمیلاد
• . اطلس گیتاشناسی استان‌ های ایران [Atlas Gitashenasi Ostanhai Iran] (Gitashenasi Province Atlas of Iran)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Qeshm Island.

• Qeshmicty.Ir
• qeshm tourist
• Qeshm PressTV documentary on YouTube
• Qeshm Island entry In the Iranica.com
• Hormoz and Qeshm
• Qeshm history from Hormozgan university website
• Hormozgan'S townships
• Qeshm Island'S attractions
• Portuguese Castle At Wikimapia

Portuguese overseas empire
North Africa 15th century 1415–1640 Ceuta 1458–1550 Alcácer Ceguer (El Qsar es Seghir) 1471–1550 Arzila (Asilah) 1471–1662 Tangier 1485–1550 Mazagan (El Jadida) 1487–16th century Ouadane 1488–1541 Safim (Safi) 1489 Graciosa 16th century 1505–1541 Santa Cruz do Cabo de Gué (Agadir) 1506–1525 Mogador (Essaouira) 1506–1525 Aguz (Souira Guedima) 1506–1769 Mazagan (El Jadida) 1513–1541 Azamor (Azemmour) 1515–1541 São João da Mamora (Mehdya) 1577–1589 Arzila (Asilah)
Sub-Saharan Africa 15th century 1455–1633 Anguim 1462–1975 Cape Verde 1470–1975 São Tomé1 1471–1975 Príncipe1 1474–1778 Annobón 1478–1778 Fernando Poo (Bioko) 1482–1637 Elmina (São Jorge da Mina) 1482–1642 Portuguese Gold Coast 1508–15472 Madagascar3 1498–1540 Mascarene Islands 16th century 1500–1630 Malindi 1501–1975 Portuguese Mozambique 1502–1659 Saint Helena 1503–1698 Zanzibar 1505–1512 Quíloa (Kilwa) 1506–1511 Socotra 1557–1578 Accra 1575–1975 Portuguese Angola 1588–1974 Cacheu4 1593–1698 Mombassa (Mombasa) 17th century 1645–1888 Ziguinchor 1680–1961 São João Baptista de Ajudá 1687–1974 Bissau4 18th century 1728–1729 Mombassa (Mombasa) 1753–1975 Portuguese São Tomé and Príncipe 19th century 1879–1974 Portuguese Guinea 1885–1975 Portuguese Congo 1 Part of São Tomé and Príncipe from 1753. 2 Or 1600. 3 A factory (Anosy Region) and small temporary coastal bases. 4 Part of Portuguese Guinea from 1879.
Middle East [Persian Gulf] 16th century 1506–1615 Gamru (Bandar Abbas) 1507–1643 Sohar 1515–1622 Hormuz (Ormus) 1515–1648 Quriyat 1515–? Qalhat 1515–1650 Muscat 1515?–? Barka 1515–1633? Julfar (Ras al-Khaimah) 1521–1602 Bahrain (Muharraq • Manama) 1521–1529? Qatif 1521?–1551? Tarut Island 1550–1551 Qatif 1588–1648 Matrah 17th century 1620–? Khor Fakkan 1621?–? As Sib 1621–1622 Qeshm 1623–? Khasab 1623–? Libedia 1624–? Kalba 1624–? Madha 1624–1648 Dibba Al-Hisn 1624?–? Bandar-e Kong
Indian subcontinent 15th century 1498–1545 Laccadive Islands (Lakshadweep) 16th century Portuguese India  • 1500–1663 Cochim (Kochi)  • 1501–1663 Cannanore (Kannur)  • 1502–1658  1659–1661 Quilon (Coulão / Kollam)  • 1502–1661 Pallipuram (Cochin de Cima)  • 1507–1657 Negapatam (Nagapatnam)  • 1510–1961 Goa  • 1512–1525  1750 Calicut (Kozhikode)  • 1518–1619 Portuguese Paliacate outpost (Pulicat)  • 1521–1740 Chaul   (Portuguese India)  • 1523–1662 Mylapore  • 1528–1666 Chittagong (Porto Grande De Bengala)  • 1531–1571 Chaul  • 1531–1571 Chalé  • 1534–1601 Salsette Island  • 1534–1661 Bombay (Mumbai)  • 1535 Ponnani  • 1535–1739 Baçaím (Vasai-Virar)  • 1536–1662 Cranganore (Kodungallur)  • 1540–1612 Surat  • 1548–1658 Tuticorin (Thoothukudi)  • 1559–1961 Daman and Diu  • 1568–1659 Mangalore   (Portuguese India)  • 1579–1632 Hugli  • 1598–1610 Masulipatnam (Machilipatnam) 1518–1521 Maldives 1518–1658 Portuguese Ceylon (Sri Lanka) 1558–1573 Maldives 17th century Portuguese India  • 1687–1749 Mylapore 18th century Portuguese India  • 1779–1954 Dadra and Nagar Haveli
East Asia and Oceania 16th century 1511–1641 Portuguese Malacca [Malaysia] 1512–1621 Maluku [Indonesia]  • 1522–1575  Ternate  • 1576–1605  Ambon  • 1578–1650  Tidore 1512–1665 Makassar 1537–1999 Macau [China] 1571–1639 Decima (Dejima / Nagasaki) [Japan] 17th century 1642–1975 Portuguese Timor (East Timor)1 19th century Portuguese Macau  • 1864–1999 Coloane  • 1851–1999 Taipa  • 1890–1999 Ilha Verde 20th century Portuguese Macau  • 1938–1941 Lapa and Montanha (Hengqin) 1 1975 is the year of East Timor's Declaration of Independence and subsequent invasion by Indonesia. In 2002, East Timor's independence was fully recognized.
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Hormozgan Province
Capital	Bandar Abbas
Counties and cities	Abumusa County Abu Musa Bandar Abbas County Bandar Abbas Fin Bandar Lengeh County Bandar Charak Bandar Lengeh Kish Kong Bashagard County Sardasht Bastak County Bastak Jenah Kukherd Hajjiabad County Fareghan Hajjiabad Jask County Jask Khamir County Bandar Khamir Ruydar Minab County Hasht Bandi Minab Senderk Sirik Parsian County Parsian Qeshm County Dargahan Hormuz Qeshm Suza Rudan County Rudan Ziarat-e Ali
Sights	Boz Dam Caravanserai of Bastak Castle of Aamaj Castle of Siba Dariush Grand Hotel Dasak Mountain Fort of Our Lady of the Conception Geno Biosphere Reserve Hara forests of Qeshm Harireh Hindu Temple, Bandar Abbas The Historic Bath of Siba Khe Aab Mountain Kish Island Greek Ship Lashtan Castle, Bandar Lengeh Mehran River Nakh Mountain Paraw Kukherd Portuguese Castle, Qeshm Island Takhti Stadium Terenah Zeer Mountain
populated places	List of cities, towns and villages in Hormozgan Province
See also	Greater and Lesser Tunbs Hendurabi Hengam Island Hormuz Island Larak Island Lavan Island Shidvar Island Sirri Island Strait of Hormuz

Qeshm County
Capital	Qeshm
Districts	Central Cities Qeshm Dargahan Rural Districts and villages Howmeh Dofari Gevarzin Giahdan Hamiri Holor Kabeli Kuvehi Laft Laft-e Kohneh Ramcha Talambu Tomban Tula Ramkan Bagh-e Bala Bangali Gerdava Gorbah Dan Jijian Karevan Khaledeyn Kushah Pey Posht Ramkan Siddam Tomsenati Turian Zeynabi Hormuz Cities Hormuz Rural Districts and villages none Shahab Cities Suza Rural Districts and villages Dulab Ayeshehabad Basaidu Chahu-ye Gharbi Chahu-ye Sharqi Dar Kuh Dulab Dustku Guri Kani Konar Siah Moradi Sar Rig Tomges Hengam Hengam-e Jadid Hengam-e Qadim Qil Larak Larak Shahri Salakh Dehkhoda Durbeni Gachu Gombaran Guran Haft Rangu Malaki Naqasheh Qeshm International Airport Sahali Salakh Shahrak-e Parvaz Tabl Suza Berkeh-ye Khalaf Dayrestan Mesen Nakhl-e Gol Riku Shib Deraz Zirang