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AL SHARQIYA REGION :
At the Sumail Gap which divides the Hajar mountain range
into Western and Eastern Hajar and 65 Km from Muscat, the Sharqiya
region begins – the Eastern Hajar being its northern border.
To the south are the isolated Wahibah Sands and southwest are
the towns of Al Mudaybi and Sinaw. Southeast lies the Jala'an,
a vast sandy plain that stretches inland from the towns of Sur
and Al Ashkharah on the Arabian coast to meet the Wahibah Sands. |
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From the dramatic gorges and fertile wadis in the Eastern
Hajar, the unspoiled coastline with its sandy beaches,
magnificent cliffs and sheltered coves stretches from
Tiwi to Sur on to the most eastern point of Ras al Hadd
and down to Bahr al Hikman and Masirah Island in the south. |
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The
region had strong links with East Africa, particularly during
the reign of Sultan Said bin Sultan (1804 – 1856), who established
rule over Zanzibar and made it his "second capital",
forging commercial and social links which still exist. Many
Omanis speak the African language Swahili perfectly. Trade between
Oman, Africa and India flourished. Wealthy merchants from the
region would often live in Zanzibar and spend fortunes in their
home region on fortified castles, mosques and aflaj  (water
canal systems) as evidence of their prosperity.
The old town of Ibra, the gateway to Sharqiya is only one example
where the African influence of days gone by is still evident.
The exposure to other cultures is also reflected in the music
and dance of the region's people.
The rich waters off the coast of Oman abound in wildlife. It
is home to more than 20 species of whales and dolphins. Coral
reefs stretch along the coastline, where the sea provides an
abundance of fish. Mudflats and clear lagoons around Bahr Al
Hikman and other coastal areas are home to a large migrant and
endemic bird population.  Ras
al Had is renowned for its green turtle nesting beaches. Masirah
Island with its pristine beaches is known for rare shells and
the largest concentration of nesting loggerhead turtles. Sur,
an old seafaring port, is well known for its traditional shipbuilding
of dhows, silkweaving and "Khanjar" (dagger) making.
The isolated Wahibah Sands, traditional home of the Bedouin,
has the largest area of fossilised sand dunes in the world.
Covered by surface dunes, these lithified dunes are exposed
as the Sands reach the coast in the south.
In the northern part of Wahibah, sand dunes can reach an impressive
100 metres in height. In the southern part, the dunes are smaller
and their orientation random. The Wahibah Sands stretch for
180 Km north to south and 80 Km east to west. The woodlands
dot the eastern and western margins of the Wahibah Sands.
Desert
Discovery Tours :
Providing "that special touch" is our motto - you
are assured of constant, reliable service. |
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REGIONS
:
 Map
Musandam
Al
Batinah
Al
Dhahirah
Al
Dakhilya
Muscat
Al Sharqiya
Al
Wusta
Dhofar
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Oman