Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz • Earth.com

Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz

02-08-2023

Today’s Video of the Day from the European Space Agency features Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. This strait provides the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean.

Qeshm is separated from the Iranian coast by the Clarence Strait, also known as Khuran. The Hara Forest Protected Area is a network of shallow waterways and forest located between the island and the mainland. This protected region is home to sea turtles, snakes, and more than 150 species of migrating birds.

Qeshm is famous for its wide range of ecotourist attractions, such as the Hara marine forests. According to environmentalists, about 1.5 percent of the world birds and 25 percent of Iran’s native birds annually migrate to the forests, which are the first national geo park in Iran.

Tourists are also drawn to the island to see an age-old Portuguese fort, historic mosques, the Seyyed Mozaffar and Bibi Maryam shrines, and the “Valley of Stars.”

The average temperature on the island is 81 degress and the region is often hot and humid. From June to August, the island is described as being oppressively hot. The ideal time to visit is during the winter season.

Video Credit: ESA 

By Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com Editor

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