Larak Island

Larak Island (also Lark Island) is an island off the coast of Iran in the Persian Gulf, which has been one of Iran's major oil export points since 1987. The narrowest part of the Strait of Hormuz at distance of 24 miles (39 km) lies between the island and the Omani-owned Quoin Island.[4]

Larak Island
Native name:
جزیره لارک
Larak Island
Geography
LocationStrait of Hormuz
Coordinates26°51′12″N 56°21′20″E[1]
Adjacent bodies of waterPersian Gulf
Area49 km2 (19 sq mi)
Highest elevation81 m (266 ft)
Administration
ProvinceHormozgan
CountyQeshm County
Rural DistrictLarak Rural District
Largest settlementLarak Shahri (pop. 466)
Jazīreh-ye Lārak North Lighthouse
Iran
LocationLarak Island
Iran
Coordinates26°53′15.8″N 56°21′21.0″E
Year first constructed2008
Constructionconcrete tower
Tower shapecylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Markings / patternunpainted tower
Tower height18 metres (59 ft)
Focal height40 metres (130 ft)
Light sourcesolar power
Range18 nautical miles (33 km; 21 mi)
CharacteristicFl (2) W 10s.
Admiralty numberD7337.5
NGA number28669[2] [3]

History

During their occupation in the 16th century, the Portuguese built fortresses here, as well as on the nearby Qeshm and Hormuz Islands.[5] The island contains an Iranian military base which maintains several Chinese-made Silkworm HY-2 surface-to-surface missiles placed there in 1987.[6]

A floating terminal was established on Larak Island in June 1986.[7] The island was bombed by Iraq in November and December 1986, as part of the Iran–Iraq War. As part of Operation Praying Mantis, the Iranian frigate Sahand was sunk by the United States Navy, 200 meters southwest of Larak Island. On 14 May 1988, the large 564,739 dwt Liberian supertanker, Seawise Giant, whilst carrying crude Iranian oil, was sunk by Iraqi anti-ship missiles off the coast of Larak Island.[8]

Demographics

Larak Island is located in the Larak Rural District, which is within the Shahab District. Two settlements are on the island: Larak Shahri and Larak Kuhi.[9] Larak Shahri is the largest of the two villages, with a population of 466 people and 98 families.

Nature

The waters around Larak Island are one of the most diverse coral reef areas in the environment of the Persian Gulf. There are 37 species of scleractinian corals identified around Larak Island.[10]

See also

References
  1. "Larak Island Map, Weather and Photos". GetAMap. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
  2. Iran The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 1 October 2016
  3. NGA List of Lights – Pub.112 Retrieved 1 October 2016
  4. Joyner, Christopher C. (1 January 1990). The Persian Gulf War: Lessons for Strategy, Law, and Diplomacy. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 3. ISBN 978-0-313-26710-9.
  5. Near East/South Asia Report. Foreign Broadcast Information Service. 1983. p. 58.
  6. Metz, Helen Chapin (1989). Iran: A Country Study. Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. p. 257.
  7. Conflict and Cooperation in the Gulf Region. Springer. 22 January 2009. p. 74. ISBN 978-3-531-91337-7.
  8. Lloyd's Nautical Year Book. Lloyd's. 1988. p. 147. ISBN 9781850441953.
  9. "Larak Kuhi: map, population, location". TipTopGlobe. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
  10. J. Vajed Samiei; K. Dab; P. Ghezellou; A. Shirvani (3 April 2013). "Some scleractinian corals (Scleractinia: Anthozoa) of Larak Island, Persian Gulf". Zootaxa. 3636 (1): 101–43. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3636.1.5. PMID 26042286.

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