Samhah

Samhah or Samha (Arabic: سمحة‎) is an inhabited island in the Guardafui Channel. A part of the Socotra archipelago, it is located between the island of Socotra and Somalia.[1] Like the whole group, it belongs to Yemen, and is part of Socotra Governorate. There is a dispute between Yemen and Somalia's government over the island's sovereignty.[2]

Samhah
Jasiirada Samhah
Disputed island
Native name: سمحة
Photograph by NASA astronauts
Geography

Map of the Socotra archipelago; Samha at center left
Coordinates
ArchipelagoSocotra Archipelago
Area40 km2 (15 sq mi)
Length12 km (7.5 mi)
Width6.8 km (4.2 mi)
Administered by
Yemen
GovernorateSocotra Governorate
Claimed by
Somalia
Demographics
Population100

Statistics

It measures 40 square kilometres (15 square miles) in area, making it the smallest of the three inhabited islands of the group, after the main island of Socotra and Abd al Kuri. The population of some 100 lives in a village on the western part of the north coast. Samhah and neighboring Darsah (17 km (11 mi) to the east) are collectively known as "Al Akhawain" (Arabic: الأخوين‎) which means "The Brothers". The island of Samhah measures 12 kilometres (7 miles) in length and 6.8 kilometres (4.2 miles) in width.

Important Bird Area

The island of Samhah (along with neighbouring Darsa) has been recognised as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports breeding Jouanin's petrels.[3]

References
  1. McLaughlin, Daniel (February 2008). Yemen. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 221. ISBN 9781841622125.
  2. "For First Time in History, Somalia Claims Socotra as Its Own". Yemen Post. 27 October 2010. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  3. "Al-Ikhwan (Socotra)". BirdLife Data Zone. BirdLife International. 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
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