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Governorate
of Musandam
Overview
Musandam is the smallest and most
northerly region of Oman, covering
an area of around 3,000 square Km.
Its rocky headland juts out into
the Straits of Hormuz, giving it
strategic dominion over one of the
busiest shipping lanes in the world.
The magnificent Hajar mountain range
dominates Musandam landscape. It
extends about 640 Km from R'as Al-Hadd
in the south up to Khasab, and ends
with Ru'us Al-Jebal plunging dramatically
and dizzily into the sea creating
long fjords and inlets. Jabal Harim
is Musandam's highest mountain at
2,087m.
The entire interior is basicly mountainous,
with a graded track stretching from
Daba to Khasab that snakes through
narrow gorges, up hairpin bends
and down into wadi beds. The seas
are rich with wildlife and breathtaking
scenery readily overwhelms visitors.
Musandam has a population of approximately
30,000 largely concentrated in Khasab;
the administrative centre. They
earn their living mainly through
fishing, boat building and crafting
a number of traditional handicrafts,
such as the axe of Jerz; the symbol
of Musamdam that dates back to the
Bronze Age.
The isolated and harsh environment
of the region has instilled hardiness
and resourcefulness in the people
of Musandam, many of whom migrate
to the coast in summer to fish and
harvest dates.
Khasab
Khasab is is the administrative
hub of Musandam and is the most
northerly situated Wilayat, 480
Km from Muscat. It overlooks the
Arabian Gulf in the northwest and
the Gulf of Oman in the east. The
landscape is dramatic, with towering,
craggy cliffs and a fjord-like coastline.
The City of Khasab at the heart
of the Wilayat has been modernised
with essential amenities such as
roads, squares, parks and hotels.
The Wilayat comprises a number of
attractions, with Khasab Fort dating
back to the era of Al Bu-Said being
the most prominent. There are also
a number of towers: Al-Siba; Kabas
Al-Kasr; and the tower of Said Bin
Ahmad Al-Malik which is the remains
of what was once a colossal fort.
Around the back of Khasab Fort to
the east are the plantations and
seasonal homes of Kumzari tribe,
in the Harat Al-Kumzari. Further
east is the souq, with busy shops
selling most of usual items found
elsewhere in Oman and imported goods,
together with local pottery and
Musandam's distinctive axe or Jerz.
The bustling port of Khasab is vibrant
with commercial activity, including
a fair number of cruise organisers.
The principal occupation of Khasab
people is fishing, followed by animal
husbandry and agriculture. The area
is fertile and many fruit and vegetable
crops are grown here.
Khasab is rapidly evolving into
a tourist hotspot. Diving in the
area is well known for its challenges.
Mountain safaris are popular as
are the Dhow cruises of the nearby
fjords.
Bukha
The Wilayat of Bukha lies 26 Km
from Khasab City to the West, and
borders the Emirate of R'as Al-Khaima
in the southwest.
The sprawling town of Bukha is situated
on a crescent shaped bay, which
is overlooked by its majestic Fort.
Like the other Wilayats of Musandam,
Bukha has a mountainous terrain
enclosing many caves.
At the summit of one such peak resides
a watchtower marking the remains
of another fortification: Al-Qala'a
Fort. From this vantage point, the
monument of Al-Masjid Al-Kabeer
(The Big Mosque) can also be seen.
Bukha's main industries are silver
minting, agriculture, date and citrus
fruit cultivation, as well as building
fishing boats.
Daba
The Wilayat of Daba is the gateway
to Musandam. It is 112 Km from Khasab
and occupies the South Eastern tip
of the Peninsula, bordering the
United Arab Emirates to the South
and the Gulf of Oman to the East
The area is noted for its scores
of vast wide fjords known as Al-Ghabayen,
which fishing boats take refuge
during storms, with Khawr Ma'la
and Al-Meem being the most renowned.
The bustling town is a centrally
situated port that caters both to
fishing and trading vessels. On
the opposite side are beautiful
sandy beaches embellishing the vicinity,
along which numerous residential
and commercial establishments can
be seen.
Ruins and various archaeological
findings are also found here, including
the Forts of Al-Seebah and Sabtan,
and the graveyard of Amir Al-Geish.
Other interesting villages to visit
in the area are Karsha, Khab Al-Shamsi
and Al-Tawiyah.
Fishing and agriculture provide
Daba locals with their major occupations.
Other industries however are also
practiced here including ironmongery,
weaving and boat building.
Madha
Some 175 Km to the South of Khasab,
Madha lies between the UAE Emirates
of Fujairah and Khoorfkan; Emirates
of Sharjah.
Steeped in history, excavations
have revealed remnants dating back
to the Iron Age over 3,500 years
ago, in the form of ancient houses
and rock inscriptions, much of which
are on display at Madha private
museum; well worth a visit.
The lush oasis of Madha is irrigated
by the only aflaj in Musandam and
a number of natural springs, out
of which Ein Samai is the most famous,
with its sulphuric waters running
cold in summer and hot in winter,
and said to possess therapeutic
properties and healing powers. The
parklands of Al-Ghal and Valley
also attract nature lovers to the
Wilayat.
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