Al Fahal

Al Fahal
	East side of Al Fahal
Waters	Gulf of Oman
Geographical location	23 ° 40 ′ 51 " N , 58 ° 30 ′ 4" E Coordinates: 23 ° 40 ′ 51 " N , 58 ° 30 ′ 4" E
length	590 m
width	310 m
surface	9.3 ha
Highest elevation	85 m above sea level NN
Residents	uninhabited

Al Fahal , or just Fahal or Pale ( Arabic جزيرة الفحل, DMG Ǧazīrat al-Faḥl meaning Stallion Island ) is a small uninhabited island about four kilometers off the coast of the Omani capital Muscat in the Gulf of Oman . It is also called Shark Island and can be easily seen from the coast.

geography

The island measures 590 meters north-south and is up to 310 meters wide. Its coast consists of overhanging cliffs throughout, except on the southwest side, where the only landing place is. It reaches a maximum height of 85 meters. Near the center of the island there is a six meter high lighthouse with a half-timbered construction.

The island consists primarily of limestone and marl that formed on the sea floor in the Eocene , around 55 to 35 million years ago. It consists of the shells of marine animals such as mussels, corals and algae that lived in the former shelf sea . The former seabed has risen due to the rise and change of the water level. Erosion has removed softer material in the area, the more solid part that forms the island today has been preserved.

Nature reserve

The island lies in the territorial waters of the Sultanate of Oman and is under nature protection because of the fish and coral species that occur here. Entry and diving requires a permit, commercial fishing is prohibited.

Dive site

Besides the wreck of the Al Munassir, Al Fahal is a well-known dive site near Muscat. Due to its location around the island at depths between five and 40 meters, larger sea creatures such as rays , sea turtles , dolphins , whale sharks and sharks can be found. The reef is covered with many soft and hard corals . A few years ago an attempt was made to build an artificial reef with semicircular concrete segments. The wreck of a tugboat and that of a launch can be found in about 27 meters water depth.