sitra
{{Short description|Island in Bahrain}}
{{about||the South India Textile Research Association|South India Textile Research Association|The Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra|SITRA}}
{{Infobox islands
| name = Sitra
| image_name =
| image_caption =
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| map = Bahrain
| map_caption = Location of Sitra in Bahrain
| native_name = {{lang|ar|سترة}}
| native_name_link = Arabic language
| native_name_lang =
| sobriquet =
| location = Persian Gulf, Arabian Gulf
| coordinates = {{Coord|26.12|N|50.65|E|region:BH_type:isle_dim:50000_source:enwiki|display=inline,title}}
| archipelago = Bahrain
| waterbody = Persian Gulf, Arabian Gulf
| total_islands = 1
| major_islands = {{hlist|Sitra}}
| area_km2 = 22.45
| coastline_km = 36
| length_km = 8.3
| width_km = 5
| highest_mount =
| elevation_m = 6
| country = Bahrain
| country_admin_divisions_title = Governorate
| country_admin_divisions = split between Capital Governorate and Southern Governorate
| country_largest_city = Marquban
| country_largest_city_population = 20,000
| demonym = Bahraini
| population = 72,601
| population_as_of = 2012
| density_km2 = 3608
| ethnic_groups = Bahraini, non-Bahraini
| timezone1 = AST
| utc_offset1 = +3
| website =
| iso_code_type = ISO code
| iso_code = BH-14
}}
Sitra ({{langx|ar|سترة}} or {{lang|ar|سِتْرَة}},{{Cite web |title=سِتْرَة: Bahrain, name, administrative division, geographic coordinates and map |url=http://www.geographic.org/geographic_names/name.php?uni=6487490&fid=502&c=bahrain |access-date=2011-03-06 |work=Geographical Names}} As-Sitra),{{Cite web |title=As Sitra: Bahrain, name, administrative division, geographic coordinates and map |url=http://www.geographic.org/geographic_names/name.php?uni=-1129386&fid=502&c=bahrain |access-date=2011-03-06 |work=Geographical Names}} also known as Sitrah{{cite EB1911|mode=cs2|last=Holdich|first=Thomas Hungerford|authorlink=Thomas Hungerford Holdich|wstitle=Bahrein Islands|volume=3|page=212}} or Sitra Island ({{Langx|ar|جزيرة سترة|links=no}} {{Transliteration|ar|DIN|Jazīrat Sitrah}}),{{Cite web |title=Jazīrat as Sitra: Bahrain, name, administrative division, geographic coordinates and map |url=http://www.geographic.org/geographic_names/name.php?uni=-1129979&fid=502&c=bahrain |access-date=2011-03-06 |work=Geographical Names}} is an island in Bahrain situated approximately {{convert|5|km|abbr=on}} south of the capital, Manama, which is on Bahrain Island.
History
The island of Sitra has witnessed various conflicts. One notable conflict occurred in 1782 between the local populace and a group of Al Khalifa individuals who arrived in Sitra from Zubarah seeking supplies. This confrontation resulted in casualties on both sides.{{in lang|ar}} [http://www.jasblog.com/wp/?p=2900 "Summary of Baharain and Baharna's history", Al Jareesh], Retrieved 4 April 2012
= Arab Spring =
{{Further|Arab Spring in Bahrain|Day of Rage (Bahrain)}}
During the Arab Spring in Bahrain, Sitra played a prominent role as a site of significant protests. The island became a focal point for demonstrations, with numerous citizens gathering to express their grievances. The events during this period led to widespread unrest, injuries, and fatalities among the protesters, marking a critical chapter in the island's contemporary history.
Geography
Situated to the east of Bahrain Island in the Persian Gulf, Sitra is positioned south of Manama and Nabih Saleh. Its western coastline serves as the boundary for Tubli Bay. Historically, the island was characterized by date-palm groves and agricultural land with several freshwater springs. However, rapid urbanization and development have significantly transformed the island's landscape.
Demography
Most of the inhabitants of the island live in nine historic villages:
- Wadyan
- Al Kharijiya
- Marquban
- Al Garrya
- Mahazza
- Sufala
- Abul Aish
- Halat Um al-Baidh (the location of the yacht club and Al Bandar resort)
- Al Hamriya
There is a massive land reclamation project called East Sitra which increased the island size by 50% and became the site of a new city.[https://www.zawya.com/story/Foundation_stone_of_Bahrains_East_Sitra_housing_project_laid-ZAWYA20150615143747/ News][http://www.housing.gov.bh/en/NewTowns/East%20Sitra%20project.pdf East Sitra Official site]
Economy
The island's economy used to be based on agriculture and fishing.
The northern section of the island has been turned into an industrial area. Bapco oil storage reservoirs are located in the south. Sitra is also the terminus of the 42-km Dhahran-Sitra natural gas pipeline, which connects it to Dahran in Saudi Arabia.{{Cite web|url=http://www.theodora.com/pipelines/middle_east_oil_gas_products_pipelines_map.html |title=Middle East Pipelines map - Crude Oil (petroleum) pipelines - Natural Gas pipelines - Products pipelines |work=Theodora.com/pipelines |access-date=2011-03-06}}
Several car and furniture showrooms also make up the new development on the island.
The Sitra Club is a cultural and sports club for the island.
Today Sitra handles Bahrain's entire petroleum production. It is the location of Port of Sitra. It is also the export center for the oil fields in northeastern Saudi Arabia.
|url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9068020/Sitrah
|title=Sitrah
|publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica
|access-date=2007-07-16
}}
Education
Sitra is the site of many school campuses such as Al Noor International School and Indian School, Bahrain. The Applied Science University is also located here.
Transportation
The Sitra Causeway connects the north of the island to Nabih Saleh and to Umm al Hussam (Manama) on Bahrain Island.
Two small bridges on the south west of Sitra also join Bahrain Island, near the villages of Ma'ameer and Eker.
Administration
The southern part of the island belongs to Southern Governorate and the northern part to Capital Governorate.
Between 1990 and 2013 it was part of Central Governorate of Bahrain, but that has since been dissolved. Between 1920 and 1990 it was part of Sitra Municipality.
=Sitra Municipality=
This was a municipality in Bahrain before they were re-organized as Governorates. The Sitra Municipality consisted of the island of Sitra and three villages close to it on the main island of Bahrain: Ma'ameer, Eker and Nuwaidrat.{{cite web
|url=http://www.fallingrain.com/world/BA/6/
|title=Directory of Cities and Towns in Sitrah, Bahrain
|publisher=Falling Rain
|access-date=2007-07-16
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070526114359/http://www.fallingrain.com/world/BA/6/ |archive-date = 2007-05-26}}
Image gallery
File:Un-bahrain.png|Map 1
File:Bahrain, administrative divisions 2014 - de - colored.svg|Map Districts
File:Capital Governorate in Bahrain 2014.svg|District Map
File:Southern Governorate in Bahrain 2014.svg|District Map
File:BapcoTanks-SitraBahrain.jpg|Bapco Bahrain oil reservoirs in Sitra
File:Sitra Wharf, 1940.jpg|Berth number 4 in Sitra Wharf in 1940
File:Bahrain-Sitrah.png|Map of Bahrain showing Sitrah municipality
File:Sitra_cemetery_-_Flickr_-_Al_Jazeera_English.jpg|Cemetery
File:Women taking part in a pro-democracy sit in in Sitra.jpg| Women taking part in a pro-democracy sit-in in Sitra
File:Bahrain map.png|Sitra (Sitrah), east of Manama, in Bahrain
See also
{{portal|Islands}}
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- {{commons category-inline|Sitra}}
{{Islands of Bahrain}}
{{Settlements of Sitra}}
{{Capital Governorate of Bahrain}}
{{Southern Governorate of Bahrain}}
{{Portal bar|Bahrain}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sitra}}
Category:Populated places in Bahrain
Category:Artificial islands of Bahrain