Jidda Island

Jidda Islands (Arabic: جزيرة جدة) are a group of 3 small uninhabited islets in Bahrain. It lies to the west of Bahrain Island and just north of Umm an Nasan in Persian Gulf. They lie 17.5 km (10.9 mi) west of the capital, Manama, on Bahrain Island.

Jidda Islands
Native name:
جزيرة جدة  (Arabic)
Jidda Islands
Location of Jidda Island in Bahrain
Geography
LocationPersian Gulf
Coordinates26.193°N 50.405°E / 26.193; 50.405
ArchipelagoBahrain
Adjacent bodies of waterPersian Gulf
Total islands3
Major islands
  • Jidda Island
  • North Jidda
  • Mini Bahrain
Area0.5 km2 (0.19 sq mi)
Highest elevation10 m (30 ft)
Administration
GovernorateNorthern Governorate
Largest settlementJidda Island (pop. 0)
Demographics
DemonymBahraini
Population0 (2016)
Pop. density0/km2 (0/sq mi)
Ethnic groupsBahraini, non-Bahraini
Additional information
Time zone
ISO codeBH-14
Official websitewww.bahrain.com

History

In 1930 Jidda became the location of one of Bahrain's prisons.[1][2] Majeed Marhoon, Abdulhadi Khalaf and several other political activists spent time in the prison in the sixties and seventies. It later became the private property of Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and is currently closed from the public.

Geography

The main island is made of limestone cliffs. It is believed that blocks of rock cut from the island were used in the Barbar temple on Bahrain Island.[3] The small Mini Bahrain is an artificial island on the south shore made to look exactly like the big Bahrain island.[4]

Demography

The island has a palace, gardens, a helipad, a mosque[5] and several other facilities made for the prime minister and his family, although the island is uninhabited and Sheikh Khalifa himself lives in Riffa, Bahrain Island.

Administration

The island belongs to the Northern Governorate of Bahrain.

Transportation

It is connected to Umm an Nasan by a 1.75 km (1.09 mi) causeway.

References


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