II.

Land and Resources

Oman is a desert country that covers an area of about 309,500 sq km (about 119,500 sq mi). There are no rivers or permanent lakes in Oman, but there are numerous oases which, together with wells, provide drinking water. Its borders with its neighbors, running mostly through barren desert, were the subjects of border disputes until the 1990s. Agreements were reached with Saudi Arabia in 1990, with Yemen in 1992, and with the UAE in 1993. The borders with Yemen and Saudi Arabia were demarcated in 1995; the border with the UAE awaits final demarcation.

A.

Natural Regions

Oman has five distinct geographical regions. In the north, the Al Bāţinah coastal plain along the Gulf of Oman coast is about 10 km (about 6 mi) wide and about 270 km (about 170 mi) long. It is the country’s main agricultural area and the location of the capital city.

Just west of the Al Bāţinah plain rise the Al Ḩajar Mountains. The mountains extend about 700 km (about 400 mi) from the Strait of Hormuz to Ra’s al Ḩadd, the easternmost point of Oman. The range is divided into the Al Ḩajar al Gharbī (Western Ḩajar) and the Al Ḩajar ash Sharqī (Eastern Ḩajar) by a major valley, the Samī’il Gap. The country’s highest elevation is at Jabal ash Sham, which reaches 3,035 m (9,957 ft) above sea level.

Inner Oman extends from the Al Ḩajar Mountains into the Rub‘ al Khali (Empty Quarter), the great sand desert of southern Arabia. Inner Oman contains a number of oases.

South of Inner Oman is Central Oman, a large, generally barren area. Off the coast of Central Oman is a large island called Maşīrah.

Lastly, between Inner Oman and the border with Yemen is a distinctive area called Dhofar. Dhofar includes a desert interior, rugged mountains made verdant by monsoon rains, and a coastal plain about 50 km (about 30 mi) long and 16 km (10 mi) wide. The small Kuria Muria Islands lie off the coast of Dhofar.

B.

Climate

Summers are extremely hot, with coastal temperatures reaching 46°C (115°F) and those in the interior even higher. The winters are quite warm; the average annual temperature in Masqaţ is 29°C (84°F). The climate of the coastal plain and mountains of Dhofar is moderated by the monsoons that deposit about 760 mm (about 30 in) of rain annually on the south side of the mountains and about 150 mm (about 6 in) along the coast. Parts of the Al Ḩajar Mountains receive up to 460 mm (18 in), while Masqaţ receives less than 100 mm (4 in). Flash floods can occur when sudden, heavy rains run off the mountains and down the wadis, or valleys. In Oman’s interior, summer winds cause large sandstorms and periodic droughts occur. In the south monsoon winds can endanger shipping.

C.

Plant and Animal Life

Despite its general aridity, Oman is home to a variety of plants and animals. Grasses, shrubs, and hardy trees such as the acacia grow naturally. Grapes and apricots are grown on the slopes of the Al Ḩajar Mountains. Coconut palms grow on the south side of the mountains in Dhofar and frankincense trees on the north. There are no truly fertile agricultural soils; the best are the alluvial soils washed down from the mountains, both in the interior and along the coast. Wildlife includes several hundred species of birds, lizards, snakes, and scorpions. Rare animal and plant species are protected in nature reserves and protected coastal areas.

D.

Natural Resources

Oman’s most important mineral resource is petroleum, although its reserves are modest compared to those of neighboring Saudi Arabia and the UAE. It also has significant natural gas reserves. In addition, there are modest deposits of copper, gold, chromite, manganese, asbestos, coal, and limestone.

E.

Environmental Issues

Water is a scarce resource in Oman, although water use is not as intensive as in neighboring countries. Saltwater intrusion into freshwater aquifers has occurred in some instances. Oman’s reliance on the oil industry brings with it cases of ocean and coastal pollution.