Native name: جزيرة فرسان | |
|---|---|
 Al-Rifai House | |
  Farasan Island | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Red Sea, Saudi Arabia |
| Coordinates | 16°42′21″N 41°59′0″E / 16.70583°N 41.98333°E |
| Archipelago | Farasan Islands |
| Adjacent to | Red Sea |
| Area | 380 km2 (150 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
| Jazan Province | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 20,000 (2010) |
| Additional information | |
| Time zone | |
| Area code | 017 |
Farasan Island[a], also known as Great Farasan Island[b], is the largest island and administrative centre of the Farasan Islands archipelago in the Red Sea. It lies about 50 km (31 mi) offshore from Jizan in southwestern Saudi Arabia. With an area of approximately 380 km2 (150 sq mi), it is the largest island in Saudi Arabia and the second-largest in the Red Sea after Dahlak Kebir.[1][2][3]
The surrounding waters are part of the Farasan Islands Marine Sanctuary, established to protect the region’s marine and coastal biodiversity.[4][5]
Kunnah
[edit]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.[6]
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.[citation needed] The Jazan region produces about 11,000 metric tons (24,000,000 lb) of fish annually with over 3,200 fishermen working along the coasts of 17 fishing ports.[citation needed] It uses about 1,657 boats, resulting in the investment in fisheries and helping preserving the fishing profession.[6]
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Farasan Islands, Saudi Arabia". www.plantdiversityofsaudiarabia.info. Archived from the original on 2020-02-03. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
- ^ "Farasan Governorate". Saudipedia. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
- ^ "Juzur Farasan". Archived from the original on 2025-10-06. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
- ^ Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "Farasan Islands Protected Area". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
- ^ "Protected Areas | National Center for Wildlife". ncw.gov.sa. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
- ^ a b "Saudi Arabia's Farasan Island celebrates its annual fishing season". Arab News. 2022-05-04. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
External links
[edit]- Mohsin Tariq. "Virtual tour of Farasan Island". Archived from the original on 2018-01-06. Retrieved 2013-07-21. (in English)
- Farasan Islands official website (in Arabic)
- Erik Bjurström (January–February 2000). "Dreaming of Farasan". Saudi Aramco World. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved September 26, 2012. (in English)
- "Farasan Island, Jizan". Splendid Arabia. Archived from the original on June 14, 2012. Retrieved September 26, 2012. (in English)
- Photo of the beach on Farasan Island
- Photo of Farasan Island's antiquities
- Photo of Farasan Island's antiquities
