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Zabargad Island (Egyptian Arabic: جزيرة الزبرجد Geziret El Zabargad, also known as St. John's Island in English) is the largest of a group of islands in Foul Bay, Egypt. It covers an area of 4.50 square kilometres (1.74 square miles). It is not a quaternary volcanic island, but rather is believed to be an upthrusted part of upper mantle material. The nearest island is known as "Rocky Island". The island is slightly north of the Tropic of Cancer, and its highest point is 235 metres (771 feet).

History[edit]

Before the mid 270s [BCE] Ptolemaic activity along the African coast of the Red Sea had been limited with few significant results other than the discovery of the 'topaz' deposits on the island of Gazirat Zabarjad southeast of Ras Banas. ... 2. Pliny, HN 37, 108 refers to a large topaz that was brought back to Egypt as a gift for Ptolemy I's queen Berenice I.^[1]

Geology[edit]

Historic specimen of forsterite var. peridot, 1.3 cm × 0.7 cm × 0.4 cm (0.5 in × 0.3 in × 0.2 in). Mining of peridot seems to have begun around 300 BC.

The island is considered geologically unique as it is uplifted mantle, a fragment of the sub-Red Sea lithosphere. Rocks on the island are mainly lower crustal igneous rocks. The island became present above sea level after African and Asiatic continental plates converged to cause rocks in the lower crust to be uplifted. The island contains three masses of peridotite, which are rich in the gemstone peridot (olivine). The island is believed to be the first discovered source of peridot, which was called topazios in ancient times, hence the Greek name for the island, Topazios. Layers of spinel-lherzolites with anhydrous Al-diopside pyroxenites and hydrous Cr-diopside pyroxenites can be found too on the island.^{[citation needed]}

Pliny, XXXV, chap. 22 says that, according to Juba, the island "Topazus in the Red Sea", also had mines producing sandarach (realgar) and ochre, "but neither of them are imported to us from that place."^[2]

Nature[edit]

The island is part of the Elba National Park meaning the island is conserved. However, the island was closed to the public for one year due to damage to corals and the disturbance of birds who breed on the island.

Birds[edit]

The island serves as a breeding ground for at least nine known species of birds. The most recent discovery was that of 150 pairs of sooty falcon (Falco concolor) in October, 1994.

Plantlife[edit]

There is very little vegetation on the island due to the lack of soil.

Corals and sealife[edit]

The corals surround the island and act as a barrier for the fish and other sea life which live among it. However, the corals recently became damaged due to increased tourist activity and the expansion of the diving industry on the island. The coral is located approximately 25 metres below the surface.

Fish that can be found within the nearby waters and corals are:

Tourism[edit]

The island is near coral reefs, which are a popular diving attraction for tourists. The diving industry on the island has increased as well as the tourism industry on the island in general resulting in construction of hotels and diving shelves. The beaches are often quiet and are relatively unspoilt by development. However, most tourists go to this island as a "stop-off" before going to Rocky Island in the south.

References[edit]

^ On the Erythraean Sea. Agatharchides of Cnidus. Translated from the Greek and edited by Stanley M. Burstein. The Hakluyt Society. London. 1989, p. 6 and n. 2.
^ The Natural History by Pliny the Elder. Vol. VI. Translated by John Bostock and H. T. Riley. Henry G. Bohn, York St., Covent Garden, London, pp. 239-240 and n. 34.

External links[edit]

23°36′35″N 36°11′45″E / 23.60972°N 36.19583°E / 23.60972; 36.19583

[1] On the Erythraean Sea. Agatharchides of Cnidus. Translated from the Greek and edited by Stanley M. Burstein. The Hakluyt Society. London. 1989, p. 6 and n. 2.

[2] The Natural History by Pliny the Elder. Vol. VI. Translated by John Bostock and H. T. Riley. Henry G. Bohn, York St., Covent Garden, London, pp. 239-240 and n. 34.

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|Island in Foul Bay, Egypt}}
-{{dablink|This article is about an island part of [[Egypt]]. For other islands called Saint John's Island, see [[St. John's Island (disambiguation)]].}}
+{{For|other islands called Saint John's Island|St. John's Island (disambiguation)}}
+[[File:Zabargad.jpg|thumb|right|Zabargad Island, Egypt.]]
-[[File:Forsterite-223825.jpg|thumb|Historic specimen of [[Forsterite]] var. [[peridot]],  1.3 x 0.7 x 0.4 cm. Mining of peridot seems to have begun around 300 BC.]]
-'''St. John's Island''' (also known as '''Zabargad, Zebirget, Topazios, Gazirat Zabarjad''') is the largest of a group of islands in [[Foul Bay]], [[Red Sea]] in southern [[Egypt]]. It covers an area of 4.50 square kilometres (approx.). It is not a [[quaternary]] [[volcano|volcanic]] island, but rather is believed to be an upthrusted part of upper mantle material. The nearest island is known as "Rocky Island". The island is slightly north of the, and its highest point is 235 metres.
+'''Zabargad Island''' ({{lang-arz|جزيرة الزبرجد}} ''{{transl|arz|Geziret El Zabargad}}'', also known as '''St. John's Island''' in English) is the largest of a group of islands in [[Foul Bay]], [[Egypt]]. It covers an area of {{convert|4.50|km2|sqmi|2|abbr=off}}. It is not a [[quaternary]] [[volcano|volcanic]] island, but rather is believed to be an upthrusted part of [[upper mantle (Earth)|upper mantle]] material. The nearest island is known as "[[Rocky Island (Egypt)|Rocky Island]]". The island is slightly north of the [[Tropic of Cancer]], and its highest point is {{convert|235|m|ft|0|abbr=off}}.
 ==History==
-<blockquote>"Before the mid 270s [BCE] [[Ptolemaic Egypt|Ptolemaic]] activity along the African coast of the Red Sea had been limited with few significant results other than the discovery of the 'topaz' deposits on the island of Gazirat Zabarjad southeast of [[Ras Banas]].... 2. [[Pliny the Elder|Pliny]], ''HN'' 37, 108 refers to a large topaz that was brought back to Egypt as a gift for [[Ptolemy I]]'s queen [[Berenice I]]."<ref>''On the Erythraean Sea''. [[Agatharchides of Cnidus]]. Translated from the Greek and edited by Stanley M. Burstein. The Hakluyt Society. London. 1989, p. 6 and n. 2.</ref></blockquote>
+<blockquote>Before the mid 270s [BCE] [[Ptolemaic Egypt|Ptolemaic]] activity along the African coast of the Red Sea had been limited with few significant results other than the discovery of the 'topaz' deposits on the island of Gazirat Zabarjad southeast of [[Ras Banas]].&nbsp;... 2. [[Pliny the Elder|Pliny]], ''HN'' 37, 108 refers to a large topaz that was brought back to Egypt as a gift for [[Ptolemy I]]'s queen [[Berenice I]].<ref>''On the Erythraean Sea''. [[Agatharchides of Cnidus]]. Translated from the Greek and edited by Stanley M. Burstein. The Hakluyt Society. London. 1989, p. 6 and n. 2.</ref></blockquote>
 ==Geology==
+[[File:Forsterite-223825.jpg|thumb|Historic specimen of [[forsterite]] var. [[peridot]], {{convert|1.3|x|0.7|x|0.4|cm|1|abbr=on}}. Mining of peridot seems to have begun around 300 BC.]]
+The island is considered [[geology|geologically]] unique as it is uplifted [[Mantle (geology)|mantle]], a fragment of the sub-[[Red Sea]] [[lithosphere]]. Rocks on the island are mainly lower [[Crust (geology)|crust]]al [[igneous rock]]s. The island became present above sea level after [[Africa]]n and [[Asia]]tic continental plates converged to cause rocks in the lower crust to be uplifted. The island contains three masses of [[peridotite]], which are rich in the gemstone peridot (olivine). The island is believed to be the first discovered source of peridot, which was called ''topazios'' in ancient times, hence the [[Greece|Greek]] name for the island, ''Topazios''. Layers of [[spinel]]-[[lherzolite]]s with [[anhydrous]] [[Aluminium|Al]]-[[diopside]] [[pyroxenite]]s and [[hydrous]] [[Chromium|Cr]]-diopside pyroxenites can be found too on the island.{{fact|date=August 2023}}
+Pliny, XXXV, chap. 22 says that, according to [[Juba II|Juba]], the island "Topazus in the Red Sea", also had mines producing sandarach ([[realgar]]) and ochre, "but neither of them are imported to us from that place."<ref>''The Natural History by Pliny the Elder''. Vol. VI. Translated by John Bostock and H. T. Riley. Henry G. Bohn, York St., Covent Garden, London, pp. 239-240 and n. 34.</ref>
-The island is considered [[geology|geologically]] unique as it is uplifted [[Mantle (geology)|mantle]], a fragment of the sub-[[Red Sea]] [[lithosphere]]. Rocks on the island are mainly lower [[Crust (geology)|crust]]al [[metamorphic rock]]s. The island became present above sea level after [[Africa]]n and [[Asia]]tic continental plates converged to cause rocks in the lower crust to be uplifted. The island comprises three massives of [[peridotite]], which are rich in the gemstone peridot (olivine). This gem makes the island notable as it is believed to be the first discovered source of  [[peridot]], which was called topazios in ancient times, hence the [[Greece|Greek]] name for the island, ''Topazios''. Layers of [[spinel-lherzolites]] with [[anhydrous]] [[Al-diopside pyroxenite]]s and [[hydrous]] [[Cr-diopside pyroxenite]]s can be found too on the island. The presence of all of these minerals has led to mining on the island which dates back as early as ancient times.
 ==Nature==
 The island is part of the [[Elba National Park]] meaning the island is conserved. However, the island was closed to the public for one year due to damage to corals and the disturbance of birds who breed on the island.
-===Birds===
+=== Birds ===
-The island serves as a breeding ground for at least 9 known species of birds. The most recent discovery was that of 150 pairs of [[sooty falcon]] (''Falco concolor'') in October, 1994.
+The island serves as a breeding ground for at least nine known species of birds. The most recent discovery was that of 150 pairs of [[sooty falcon]] (''Falco concolor'') in October, 1994.
-===Plantlife===
+=== Plantlife ===
-Vegetation on St. John's Island is very hard to find. Due to the island's lack of soil and infertile rocks, plants have nowhere to grow.
+There is very little vegetation on the island due to the lack of soil.
-===Corals & sealife===
+=== Corals and sealife ===
-The corals surround the island and act as a barrier for the fish and other sea life which live among it. However, the corals recently became damaged due to increased tourist activity and the expansion of the [[diving]] industry on the island. The coral is located approximately 25 metres below the surface.
+The [[coral]]s surround the island and act as a barrier for the fish and other sea life which live among it. However, the corals recently became damaged due to increased tourist activity and the expansion of the [[Underwater diving|diving]] industry on the island. The coral is located approximately 25 metres below the surface.
-Fish that can be found within the nearby [[water]]s and corals are:
+Fish that can be found within the nearby waters and corals are:
 *[[Batoidea|Rays]]
 *[[Moray eel]]s
@@ Line 32: / Line 34: @@
 ==Tourism==
-The island is  near [[coral reef]]s, which are a popular diving attraction for tourists. The diving industry on the island has increased as well as the tourism industry on the island in general resulting in construction of hotels and [[diving shelf|diving shelves]]. The beaches are often quiet and are relatively unspoilt by development. However, most tourists go to this island as a "stop-off" before going to [[Foul Bay|Rocky Island]] in the south.
+The island is  near [[coral reef]]s, which are a popular diving attraction for tourists. The diving industry on the island has increased as well as the tourism industry on the island in general resulting in construction of hotels and [[diving shelf|diving shelves]]. The beaches are often quiet and are relatively unspoilt by development. However, most tourists go to this island as a "stop-off" before going to [[Rocky Island (Egypt)|Rocky Island]] in the south.
 ==References==
@@ Line 40: / Line 42: @@
 *[http://www.mindat.org/loc-6423.html St. John's Island peridot information and history] at [[Mindat.org]]
 *[http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sites/?action=SitHTMDetails.asp&sid=6205&m=0 Bird Life Information]
-*[http://www.h2odive.co.uk/destination/Egypt's_Marine_Park_Islands.html Diving Egypt's Marine Park Islands]
-*[http://www.scuba-diving-safaris.co.uk/destinations/egypt/red_sea_marine_parks.htm Diving Information]
-*[http://www.seaqueens.com red sea dive safaris covering all the red sea]
-{{coord|23|36|35|N|36|11|45|E|dim:3000_scale:30000_region:EG-BA_type:isle_source:dewiki|display=title}}
+{{Coord|23|36|35|N|36|11|45|E|dim:3000_scale:30000_region:EG-BA_type:isle_source:dewiki|display=title}}
 {{Islands of Egypt}}
+{{Authority control}}
 [[Category:Islands of Egypt]]
 [[Category:Islands of the Red Sea]]
+[[Category:Red Sea Governorate]]

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