Farasan Island
{{Short description|Island in Saudi Arabia}}
{{Infobox islands
| name = Farasan Island
| native_name = جزيرة فرسان
| native_name_lang = Arabic
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| pushpin_map = Saudi Arabia
| pushpin_label = Farasan Island
| pushpin_label_position = top
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| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Farasan Island in Saudi Arabia
| coordinates = {{coord|16|42|21|N|41|59|0|E|display=inline,title}}
| etymology =
| location = Red Sea, offshore from Jizan
| archipelago = Farasan Islands
| waterbody = Red Sea
| total_islands = Farasan Islands (Farasan is the largest island)
| major_islands = Farasan
| area_km2 = 380
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| country = Saudi Arabia
| country_admin_divisions_title = Province
| country_admin_divisions = Jizan Province
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| population = 20,000 (as of 2010)
| population_as_of = 2010
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| languages = Arabic
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| timezone1 = Arabia Standard Time
| utc_offset1 = +3
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Farasan Island ({{langx|ar|جزيرة فرسان}}; transliterated: Jazyrat Farasan) is the largest island of the Farasan Islands, in the Red Sea. It is located some {{cvt|50|km}} offshore from Jizan, the far southwestern part of Saudi Arabia. With an area of {{cvt|380|sqkm}}, it is the second largest island of the Red Sea after Dahlak Kebir.{{cite web |author= |date= |title=Farasan Island |url=https://saudipedia.com/en/article/1082/geography/islands/farasan-island |website=saudipedia.com |location= |publisher=Saudipedia |access-date=2025-04-25}}{{Cite web |date=2022-05-04 |title=Saudi Arabia’s Farasan Island celebrates its annual fishing season |url=https://arab.news/whj4v |access-date=2022-05-04 |website=Arab News |language=en}} It is located at {{Coord|16.7|||N|41.0|||E|display=inline}}. The main town on the island is Farasan. The Farasan island marine sanctuary has been created around the island to protect biodiversity.
Farasan General Hospital
{{expand section|date=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
Kunnah 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.
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.{{cite needed|date=September 2023}} The Jazan region produces about {{cvt|11,000|metric ton|lb}} of fish annually with over 3,200 fishermen working along the coasts of 17 fishing ports.{{cite needed|date=September 2023}} It uses about 1,657 boats, resulting in the investment in fisheries and helping preserving the fishing profession.
Jizan to Farasan
The distance between Jizan and Farasan is {{convert|50|km|mi}}. Both ferries and {{transl|ar|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|2019|11|lc=y}}).
The {{transl|ar|italic=no|flukas}} carry up to twelve passengers. The {{transl|ar|italic=no|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|lc=y}}).
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{cite web |url=http://tourismmap.scta.gov.sa/Tour/VirtualTour_En/Jazera_Farasan_En/_flash/Final_Jazera_Farasan_En.html |title=Virtual tour of Farasan Island |author=Mohsin Tariq |access-date=2013-07-21 |archive-date=2018-01-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180106100901/http://tourismmap.scta.gov.sa/Tour/VirtualTour_En/Jazera_Farasan_En/_flash/Final_Jazera_Farasan_En.html |url-status=dead }} {{in lang|en}}
- {{Official website|http://www.farasan.org/|Farasan Islands official website}} {{in lang|ar}}
- {{cite web |url=http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/200001/dreaming.of.farasan.htm |title=Dreaming of Farasan |author=Erik Bjurström |date=January–February 2000 |work=Saudi Aramco World |access-date=September 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716222418/http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/200001/dreaming.of.farasan.htm |archive-date=July 16, 2012 |url-status=dead }} {{in lang|en}}
- {{cite web |url=http://www.splendidarabia.com/location/jizan/farasan/ |title=Farasan Island, Jizan |author= |date= |work=Splendid Arabia |access-date=September 26, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614121437/http://splendidarabia.com/location/jizan/farasan/ |archive-date=June 14, 2012 |df= }} {{in lang|en}}
- [https://www.flickr.com/photos/meesho/39204142/in/set-905530/ Photo of the beach on Farasan Island]
- [https://www.flickr.com/photos/meesho/41262388/ Photo of Farasan Island's antiquities]
- [https://www.flickr.com/photos/meesho/41261744/in/photostream/ Photo of Farasan Island's antiquities]
{{Islands of Saudi Arabia}}
{{Portal bar|Islands|Saudi Arabia}}
Category:Islands of the Red Sea