The dolphin shaped Qeshem Island, by far the largest of all islands in this part of middle east ( With more than 75000 inhabitants and more than twice the size of Bahrain or Singapore), is situated about 22 km far from Bandar Abbas at the entrance of the Azure waters of Persian Gulf in the strait of Hormoze. It occupies an area of 1500sq km (136km long and 12.5km as average width). From the Geology point of view, Qeshm Island is on the wrinkled region containing the Zagros mountain range most of whose hills and heights are of the calcareous type with sharp cuts.

It contains plain and coastal lands with low-lying mountains spread over the whole surface. The Island southern coasts are of the coral type. The highest point in the island is 397m above the sea level- the peack of Namakdan Mount- in the south west, its average height, on the other hand, is 10m. Qeshm is included among the hot and dry lands, while the relative humidity rate in Qeshm is high: the temperature is always higher than 0°C and its average varies from minimum of 22°C to maximum of 31°C. The temperature in Qeshm during summer reaches to 50°C.

From the flora and fauna point of view, the first and the most important plant community in the island is Harra sea forest, which includes a species of Mangroves, called Avicenna Marina (named after Avicenna, the famous Iranian scientist of 11AD) and covers 200sq km of the island’s total area. The island is also blessed with the possession of an assortment of plants and trees native to tropical regions along with palm groves. There are fruit trees grown in island’s northern villages.

Various insects, reptiles, birds and mammals live in Qeshm. Among the mammals, Gazelle and fox and among birds one can name the white falcos and various species of migratory birds (such as pelican and crane). The number of the migratory bird’s species in the Island reaches to 70. More than 50 species of bivalve mollusks, gastropods, cephalopods, echinoids, crabs and corals can be found on Qeshm’s coasts.

The variety of fish in the water surrounding the island is very wide so, different kind of commercial decorative fish as well as sharks, dolphins and whale can be seen there. Qeshm also is the place for laying egg of the rare hawk bills turtle.

There are a lot to see in Qeshm Island and one can spend a whole week to discover the Island leisurely. In addition to Harra mangrove forest which is the safe place of different kind of tropical and migratory birds and other creatures, The Island contains many natural and historical attractions such as Bengal Fig Tree, Salt Dome and cave with it salt stream: due to the accumulation and sedimentation of salt and sea water in deep fault, Gold wells, Valley of stars, Chahkooh, Khorbes caves which date backs to prehistory period ( about 700 BC), ruins of the Fort of Portuguese (1507 AD)and etc.

Khorbess Caves

Sunset