View source for Hawar Islands

{{short description|Group of islands in the Gulf of Bahrain}}
{{Infobox Islands
| name               = Hawar Islands
| image_name         = Hawar_Fort_1938.png
| image_caption      = Hawar Fort in 1938
| image_size         = 230
| image_alt          = 
| map                = Bahrain
| map_alt            = 
| map_width          = 
| map_caption        = Location of Hawar Islands in Bahrain
| native_name        = {{langx|ar|جزر حوار}}
| native_name_link   = Arabic language
| native_name_lang   = 
| sobriquet          = <!-- or |nickname= -->
| location           = [[Gulf of Bahrain]]
| coordinates        = {{coord|25.647|50.776|region:BH_dim:50000|display=inline,title}}
| archipelago        = 
| waterbody          = [[Persian Gulf]]
| total_islands      = {{nowrap|16}}<ref name=icj28 />
| major_islands      = {{hlist |item_style=line-height:1.4em;white-space:nowrap; |Hawar Island{{nbsp|4}}}}
| area_km2           = 52
| highest_mount      = 
| elevation_m        = 22
| country            = {{flag|Bahrain}}
| country_admin_divisions_title = [[Governorates of Bahrain|Governorate]]
| country_admin_divisions = [[Southern Governorate]], [[ISO 3166-2:BH|ISO Code BH-14]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_1 = Area
| country_admin_divisions_1 = 
| country_admin_divisions_title_2 = Population
| country_admin_divisions_2 = 
| country_admin_divisions_title_3 = Density
| country_admin_divisions_3 = 
| country_admin_divisions_title_4 = 
| country_admin_divisions_4 = 
| timezone1          = [[UTC+03:00#Arabia Standard Time|AST]]
| utc_offset1        = +3
}}
{{Designation list
 | designation1 = Ramsar
 | designation1_date = 27 October 1997
 | designation1_number = 920<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hawar Islands|website=[[Ramsar Convention|Ramsar]] Sites Information Service|url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/920|access-date=25 April 2018}}</ref>
}}

The '''Hawar Islands''' ({{langx|ar|جزر حوار}}; [[Romanization of Arabic|transliterated]]: ''Juzur Ḥawār'') are an [[archipelago]] of desert islands; all but one are owned by [[Bahrain]], while the southern, small, and uninhabited Jinan Island (Arabic: جزيرة جينان; [[Romanization of Arabic|transliterated]]: ''Jazīratu Jīnan'') is administered by [[Qatar]] as part of its [[Al-Shahaniya]] municipality. The archipelago is situated off the west coast of Qatar in the [[Gulf of Bahrain]] of the [[Persian Gulf]].

==Description==
The islands used to be one of the settlements of the Bahraini branch of the [[Dawasir]] who settled there in the early 19th century.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/87/7027.pdf |title=Case concerning Maritime Delimitation and Territorial Questions between Qatar and Bahrain |work=ICJ |date=16 March 2001 |page=44 |access-date=3 November 2009 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225074900/https://www.icj-cij.org/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The islands were first surveyed in 1820, when they were called the Warden's Islands, and two villages were recorded.<ref name=whs /> They are now uninhabited, other than a police garrison and a hotel on the main island; access to all but Hawar island itself is severely restricted. Local fishermen are allowed to fish in adjacent waters and there is some recreational fishing and tourism on and around the islands.<ref name=rambah11>{{cite web |url=http://www.ramsar.org/pdf/regional-initiatives/UAE_Workshop_Files_May2011/Fujairah_Workshop_May2011/All%20PDF%20documents%20Fujaira/BAHRAIN.pdf |title=Bahrain |work=[[Ramsar Convention]] |page=11}}</ref> Fresh water has always been scarce; historically it was obtained by surface collection and even today, with the desalination plant, additional supplies have to be brought in.<ref name=whs />

==Geography==
Despite their proximity to Qatar (they are only about {{convert|1|nmi|km}} from the Qatari mainland whilst being about {{convert|10|nmi|km|0|abbr=out}} from the main islands of Bahrain),<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4EOcBE6VIikC |title=International Maritime Boundaries : vol. IV |work=[[American Society of International Law]] |date=2002 |isbn=978-9041119544 |page=2844|last1=Charney |first1=Jonathan I. |last2=Alexander |first2=Lewis M. |last3=Smith |first3=Dr. Robert W. |last4=Law |first4=American Society of International |publisher=Martinus Nijhoff Publishers }}</ref> most of the islands belong to [[Bahrain]], having been a part of a dispute between Bahrain and Qatar which was resolved in 2001.<ref name=icj81>{{cite web |url=https://www.icj-cij.org/en/case/87 |title=Case concerning Maritime Delimitation and Territorial Questions between Qatar and Bahrain |work=[[International Court of Justice|ICJ]] |date=16 March 2001 |page=81}}</ref> The islands were formerly coincident with the district or ''Minṭaqat'' Juzur Ḥawār (مِنْطَقَة جُزُر حَوَار) and are now administered as part of the [[Southern Governorate]] of Bahrain. The land area of the islands is approximately {{convert|52|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}.<ref name=iucn>{{cite web |url=http://www.hawar-islands.com/iucn_evaluation.html |title=IUCN Evaluation of Nominations of Natural and Mixed Properties to the World Heritage List |work=Hawar-Islands.com |date=2004 |access-date=2013-06-14 |archive-date=2016-07-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160725062501/http://www.hawar-islands.com/iucn_evaluation.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Although there are 36 islands in the group,<ref name=manplan /> many of the smaller islands are little more than sand or shingle accumulations on areas of exposed bedrock molded by the ongoing processes of sedimentation and accretion. The World Heritage Site application{{clarify|date=July 2020}} named 8 major islands, which conforms to{{clarify|date=July 2020}} the description of the islands when first surveyed as consisting of 8 or 9 islands.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/87/5483.pdf |title=Case concerning Maritime Delimitation and Territorial Questions between Qatar and Bahrain |work=ICJ |date=13 June 2000 |page=12 |access-date=14 June 2013 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303210421/http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/87/5483.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> It has often been described as an archipelago of 16 islands.<ref name=icj28>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524213208/http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/87/5479.pdf|archive-date=2015-05-24|url-status=dead|url=http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/87/5479.pdf |title=Case concerning Maritime Delimitation and Territorial Questions between Qatar and Bahrain |work=ICJ |date=9 June 2000 |page=28}}</ref> Janan Island, to the south of Hawar island, is not legally considered to be a part of the group and is owned by Qatar.<ref name=icj54>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605005458/www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/87/7027.pdf|archive-date=2011-06-05|url-status=dead|url=http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/87/7027.pdf |title=Case concerning Maritime Delimitation and Territorial Questions between Qatar and Bahrain |work=ICJ |date=16 March 2001 |page=54}}</ref>

[[File:Socotra Cormorant.jpg|thumb|left|Socotra cormorant]]

==Flora and fauna==
There are small herds of [[Arabian oryx]] and [[Arabian sand gazelle|sand gazelle]] on Hawar island, and the seas around support [[sea turtle]]s and a large population of [[dugong]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ramsar.org/pdf/regional-initiatives/UAE_Workshop_Files_May2011/Fujairah_Workshop_May2011/All%20PDF%20documents%20Fujaira/BAHRAIN.pdf |title=Bahrain |work=Ramsar Convention |page=12}}</ref>

The islands are home to many bird species. The archipelago has been designated an [[Important Bird Area]] by [[BirdLife International]] because it supports significant populations of [[western reef egret]]s, [[Socotra cormorant]]s (with some 200,000–300,000 adults recorded in 1992, making it the largest known breeding concentration in the world), [[Saunders's tern|Saunders's]] and [[white-cheeked tern]]s, and [[sooty falcon]]s. Other breeding birds include [[Caspian tern|Caspian]] and [[bridled tern]]s, and [[osprey]]s. Wintering birds include [[great crested grebe]]s and [[greater flamingo]]s.<ref name=bli>{{cite web |url= https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/hawar-islands-iba-bahrain |title=Hawar Islands|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2024|website= BirdLife Data Zone|publisher= BirdLife International|access-date= 2024-10-08}}</ref>

===Conservation===
The islands were listed as a [[Ramsar Convention|Ramsar site]] in 1997.<ref name=manplan>{{cite book |url=http://www.adias-uae.com/publications/Hawar-MP.pdf |title=Hawar Islands Protected Area: Management Plan |date=January 2003}}</ref> In 2002, the Bahraini government applied to have the islands recognised as a [[World Heritage Site]] due to their unique environment and habitat for endangered species;<ref name=whs>{{cite web |url=http://www.hawar-islands.com/Hawar_application.htm |title=Nomination file: The Hawar Archipelago |work=Government of Bahrain |date=11 June 2002 |access-date=1 October 2005 |archive-date=25 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160725094818/http://www.hawar-islands.com/Hawar_application.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> the application was ultimately unsuccessful.<ref name=iucn />

{{clear|left}}

[[File:Northern_Village_-_Hawar_Islands_1938.png|thumb|right|North village of Hawar in 1938]]
[[File:Hawar Islands.jpg|thumb|Hawar Islands Resort]]

==Administration==
The islands were formerly coincident with the region or ''Minṭaqat'' of Juzur Ḥawār (مِنْطَقَة جُزُر حَوَار) and are now administered as part of the [[Southern Governorate]] of Bahrain.<ref name=iucn />

Jinan Island is administered as part of [[Al-Shahaniya|Al-Shahaniya Municipality]] of Qatar.

==Access==
The islands are connected through a {{cvt|25|km}} ferry ride from [[Manama]] and are reported to have a potential to be developed as a beach tourism destination.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-BvUCwAAQBAJ&dq=hawar+island+tourism&pg=PA166|title=Oxford Business Group - The Report, 2015|publisher=Oxford Business Group|page=166|date=2015|isbn=9781910068229 }}</ref>

== List of islands ==
=== Hawar archipelago ===
By far the largest island is Hawar, which accounts for more than {{convert|41|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} of the {{convert|54.5|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} land area.<ref name=iucn /> Following in size are Suwād al Janūbīyah, Suwād ash Shamālīyah, Rubud Al Sharqiyah, Rubud Al Gharbiyah, and Muhazwarah (Umm Hazwarah).

{| class="wikitable"
! scope="col" width="200px" | Name
! scope="col" width="70px" | [[Arabic language|Arabic]]
! scope="col" width="100px" | [[Geographic coordinate system|Coordinates]]
! align=center scope="col" width="100px" | Max height
! Comments
|-
|Hawar || جَزِيرَة حَوَار || {{coord|25|39|19|N|50|44|58|E|name=Hawar}} || align="center" | {{Convert|22|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="bird">{{cite web |url=http://www.hawar-islands.com/nature.html |title=Bahrain Bird Report |work=Hawar-Islands.com |access-date=2006-09-18 |archive-date=2017-05-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170509070022/http://www.hawar-islands.com/nature.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> || The island is {{convert|18|km|mi|abbr=on}} long and varies in width from {{convert|5.2 to 0.9|km|mi|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite journal |title=An archaeological survey of Hawar Island |journal=Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy |date=November 2001 |page=143 |doi=10.1034/j.1600-0471.2001.d01-2.x |volume=12|issue=2 |last1 = Crombe|first1 = P.|last2=De Dapper |first2=M. |last3=Haerinck |first3=E. }}</ref> Continuous beach ridge complex west coast, sloping [[bedrock]] rising west to east. Complex bay and cliff formations east coast fronted in places by [[Sabkha|subqa]], [[wikt:jebel|jebel]] and terminals of east lower headlands [[Aeolian processes|aeolian]] formations calcified reef structures and [[algal mat]]s.<ref name="bird" />
|-
|Suwād al Janūbīyah || سُوَاد اَلْجَنُوبِيَّة || {{coord|25|38|33|N|50|47|59|E|name=Suwād al Janūbīyah}}|| align="center" | {{Convert|4|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="bird" />|| South Suwad. Sand and [[shingle beach|shingle]] accumulations, subqa and salt-encrusted flats with areas of exposed surface rock, beach rock to the north. Mud, [[shoals]] and shallow to south, blown sand beaches.<ref name="bird" /> Host to a large Socotra cormorant colony, representing over 10% of the world population.<ref name="whs" />
|-
|Suwād ash Shamālīyah || سُوَاد اَلشَّمَالِيَّة || {{coord|25|40|29|N|50|48|36|E|name=Suwād ash Shamālīyah}}|| align="center" | {{Convert|3|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="bird" />||  North Suwad. Sand and shingle accumulations, subqa and salt-encrusted flats, areas of beach rock to north, shoals and shallow to south and southeast, wind blown sand, beaches.<ref name="bird" />
|-
|Rubud Al Sharqiyah || رَبَض اَلشَّرْقِيَّة || {{coord|25|45|03|N|50|46|54|E|name=Rubud Al Sharqiyah}}|| align="center" | {{Convert|0.8|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="bird" />|| East Rubud. Sand and shingle accumulations, subqa and salt-encrusted flats, storm beach north and northeast, [[mudflats]], shoals and shallow [[lagoons]] south and east large areas of beach rock and reef. Islands off exposed beach rocks & vegetated islets.<ref name="bird" /> Significant [[western reef heron]] colony.<ref name="whs" />
|-
|Rubud Al Gharbiyah || رَبَض اَلْغَرْبِيَّة ||  {{coord|25|45|07|N|50|45|58|E|name=Rubud Al Gharbiyah}}|| align="center" | {{Convert|1|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="bird" />|| West Rubud. Sand and shingle accumulations, subqa and encrusted flats, storm beach north and west, mudflats, shoals and shallow lagoons south and east. Islands off exposed beach rocks & vegetated islets.<ref name="bird" /> Significant western reef heron colony.<ref name="whs" />
|-
|Muhazwarah (Umm Hazwarah)|| &nbsp;|| {{coord|25|39|46|N|50|46|28|E|name=Muhazwarah}}|| align="center" | {{Convert|12.5|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="bird" />|| Rock (exposed strata), undercut cliffs, small sand or shingle beaches, raised [[marine terrace]]s with sand spit southern aspect sand accumulations behind. Centre open [[wadi]] with rim rocks.<ref name="bird" />
|-
|Umm Jinni || أم جني || {{coord|25|40|31|N|50|47|05|E|name=Umm Jinni}}|| align="center" | {{Convert|0.5|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="bird" />|| Sand and shingle accumulations with areas of beach rock shoals and shallow lagoons surrounding.<ref name="bird" />
|-
|Ajirah || جَزِيرَة عَجِيرَة || {{coord|25|44|24|N|50|49|24|E|name=Ajirah}}|| align="center" | {{Convert|7|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="bird" />|| Rock (exposed strata), undercut cliffs and areas of beach rock and reefs. Single [[marine terrace]] with sand spit southwest sand and shingle accumulations behind.<ref name="bird" />
|-
|Bū Sadād (Bu Sa’adad) (''group'') || جُزُر بُو سَدَاد || {{coord|25|37|31|N|50|46|37|E|name=Bū Sadād}}|| align="center" | {{Convert|2|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="bird" />|| Sand and shingle accumulations with areas of beach rock, shoals and shallow lagoons surrounding. Storm beaches northern aspects. Islands off ‑ various with mud sand and exposed rocky vegetated islets.<ref name="bird" />
|-
|Al Hajiyat (''group'') || الحجيات || {{coord|25|42|00|N|50|48|00|E|name=Al Hajiyat}}|| align="center" | {{Convert|7.5|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="bird" />|| Group of 3 islands.<ref name="manplan" /> Rock (exposed strata), undercut cliffs [[marine terrace|terraced]], small sand or shingle beaches, reefs.<ref name="bird" />
|-
|Al Wukūr (Al Wakur) (''group'') || جُزُراَلْوُكُور || {{coord|25|39|13|N|50|48|54|E|name=al Wukūr}}|| align="center" | {{Convert|10|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="bird" />|| Isolated sea stacks with shingle beaches with surrounding shallow lagoon.<ref name="bird" />
|-
|Bu Tammur (''group'') || بو تمور || {{coord|25|37|00|N|50|47|00|E|name=Bu Tammur}}|| align="center" | {{Convert|1.5|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="bird" />|| Isolated undercut heavily fossilized rock platforms.<ref name="bird" />
|}

The following were not considered as part of the Hawar islands in the [[International Court of Justice]] (ICJ) judgment, being located between Hawar and the Bahrain Islands and not disputed by Qatar, but have been included in the Hawar archipelago by the Bahrain government as part of the 2002 [[World Heritage Site]] application.<ref name=whs /><ref>{{cite book |url=http://www.adias-uae.com/publications/Hawar-MP.pdf |title=Hawar Islands Protected Area: Management Plan |date=January 2003 |page=10 (map)}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! scope="col" width="200px" | Name
! scope="col" width="70px" | [[Arabic language|Arabic]]
! scope="col" width="100px" | [[Geographic coordinate system|Coordinates]]
! scope="col" width="100px" | Max height
! Comments
|-
|Jazīrat Mashtān (Mashtan) || جَزِيرَة مَشْتَان || {{coord|25|48|22|N|50|40|54|E|name=Jazīrat Mashtān}} || || Northernmost island and the closest to [[Bahrain Island]]. Roughly equidistant between there and the northernmost of the Hawar islands, Rubud Al Gharbiyah. Although very small at high tide, at low tide Mashtan is considerably larger.<ref>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605005458/www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/87/7027.pdf|archive-date=2011-06-05|url-status=dead|url=http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/87/7027.pdf |title=Case concerning Maritime Delimitation and Territorial Questions between Qatar and Bahrain |work=ICJ |date=16 March 2001 |page=61}}</ref>
|-
|Al Mu`tariḑ || اَلْمُعْتَرِض ||{{coord|25|47|12|N|50|42|51|E|name=Al Mu`tariḑ}} ||  || A reef south-east of Mashtan.<ref name=whs /> Location of the largest sighting of dugong in the area.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hawar-islands.com/dugong.html |title=Dugong |work=Hawar-Islands.com |access-date=2013-06-14 |archive-date=2016-07-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160725094854/http://www.hawar-islands.com/dugong.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
|Fasht Bū Thawr (Bu Thur) || فَشْت بُو ثَوْر || {{coord|25|48|00|N|50|46|00|E|name=Fasht Bū Thawr}} ||  || A [[low-tide elevation]] [[coral reef]] approximately {{convert|100|m|ft|abbr=off}} long.<ref name=whs />
|}

=== Janan Island ===
[[File:Hawar_Pier_1938.png|thumb|left|Hawar Pier in 1938.]]
Janan (or Jinan) Island, a small island south of Hawar island, was also considered in the 2001 {{abbr|ICJ|International Court of Justice}} judgment. Based on a previous agreement when both Qatar and Bahrain were under British occupation, it was judged to be separate from the Hawar islands and so considered by the court separately.<ref name=icj54 /> It was awarded to Qatar.<ref name=icj81 />

{| class="wikitable"
! scope="col" width="200px" | Name
! scope="col" width="70px" | [[Arabic language|Arabic]]
! scope="col" width="100px" | [[Geographic coordinate system|Coordinates]]
! align=center scope="col" width="100px" | Max height (meters)
! Comments
|-
|Jazīrat Jinān (Janan) || جَزِيرَة جَنَان || {{coord|25|33|29|N|50|44|06|E|name=Jazīrat Jinān}} ||  || A small island (or islands, if the low tide elevation of Hadd Janan is counted separately), {{convert|1.6|nmi|km}} south of Hawar Island. It measures approximately {{convert|700|by|175|m|ft}} and with a total surface area of around {{convert|0.115|km2|acre|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605005458/www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/87/7027.pdf|archive-date=2011-06-05|url-status=dead |url=http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/87/7027.pdf |title=Case concerning Maritime Delimitation and Territorial Questions between Qatar and Bahrain |work=ICJ |date=16 March 2001 |page=49}}</ref>
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Bahrain|Island}}
* ''[[Qatar v. Bahrain]]''
* [[List of islands of Bahrain]]

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Hawar Islands}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20170212054946/http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/87/7029.pdf Decision of the International Court of Justice on the Hawar dispute (2001)]

=== Maps ===
* [http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/bahrnc1.pdf Basic map with island names and features], p.&nbsp;3
* [http://www.hawar-islands.com/ramsar_topo.jpg Topographical map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304023221/http://www.hawar-islands.com/ramsar_topo.jpg |date=2016-03-04 }}
* [http://www.hawar-islands.com/map_geo.html Geological map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304031014/http://www.hawar-islands.com/map_geo.html |date=2016-03-04 }}
* [http://www.hawar-islands.com/hydro_bahrain.jpg Navigation chart, Bahrain & Hawar] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303213026/http://www.hawar-islands.com/hydro_bahrain.jpg |date=2016-03-03 }}
* [http://www.hawar-islands.com/map_marine.html Aerial photograph] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303211953/http://www.hawar-islands.com/map_marine.html |date=2016-03-03 }}

=== Media ===
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeF-2QIR3-A ''Bahrain Desert Birds''], ''BBC Planet Earth''. Taken from ''[[Bbc planet earth#9. .22Shallow Seas.22|"Shallow Seas"]]'' (2006).

{{Islands of Bahrain}}
{{Cities of Bahrain}}
{{Southern Governorate of Bahrain}}
{{Persian Gulf region}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hawar Islands}}
[[Category:Populated places in Bahrain]]
[[Category:Islands of Bahrain]]
[[Category:Islands of Qatar]]
[[Category:Former municipalities (regions) of Bahrain]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of Bahrain]]
[[Category:Disputed territories in the Persian Gulf]]
[[Category:Disputed islands of Asia]]
[[Category:Archipelagoes of Asia]]
[[Category:Archipelagoes of the Indian Ocean]]
[[Category:Territorial disputes of Bahrain]]
[[Category:Territorial disputes of Qatar]]
[[Category:Bahrain–Qatar border]]
[[Category:Important Bird Areas of Bahrain]]
[[Category:Important Bird Areas of Persian Gulf islands]]
[[Category:Ramsar sites in Bahrain]]
[[Category:Islands of the Persian Gulf]]