Hafun
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Hafun Xaafuun حافون |
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| Town | |
One of the forts of the Majeerteen Sultanate in Hafun (early 1900s).
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 Hafun
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| Coordinates: 10°25′00″N 51°16′00″E / 10.41667°N 51.26667°ECoordinates: 10°25′00″N 51°16′00″E / 10.41667°N 51.26667°E | |
| Country |
 Somalia
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| Region | Bari |
| District | Hafun |
| Founded | 16th century BC |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 13,200 |
| Time zone | EAT (UTC+3) |
Hafun (Somali: Xaafuun; Arabic: حافون) is a town in the northeastern Bari province of Somalia. Situated in Ras Hafun, it is the center of the Hafun District. It is also the Easternmost town in Continental Africa
Hafun has been identified as the ancient trading port of Opone, which was described in the 1st century CE Greek travelogue the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea. Pottery found in Oponean tombs date back to the Mycenaean Kingdom of Greece that flourished between the 16th century BC. Merchants from as far afield as Indonesia and Malaysia also passed through the settlement. By the 50 CE, the area was well known as a center for the cinnamon trade, along with the barter of cloves and other spices, ivory, exotic animal hides, and incense. It also traded in tortoise-shells.
During the early modern period, Hafun was a part of the Majeerteen Sultanate's realm.
In 1930, an Italian firm invested capital to exploit salt deposits in Hafun and Hurdiyo. By 1933-34, the Hafun salt works were producing more than 200,000 metric tons of salt, most of which was exported to the Far East.
Following independence in 1960, the town was made the center of the official Hafun District.
As of 2000, Hafun had a population of around 13,200 inhabitants.
Hafun has a number of academic institutions. According to the Puntland Ministry of Education, there are 8 primary schools in the Hafun District. Among these are Hurdiya, Laamiye, Gardush and Xandha.
The Hafun Fishing Company was established in July 1992 in Bosaso. It was named after Hafun, where HFC also has an office. The firm exports a wide range of fish products to international markets. Among these are lobsters, frozen fish, dried shark meat and fin, which it mainly sends to Yemen, the United Arab Emirates and Oman in the Persian Gulf, as well as some products to Kenya in the African Great Lakes region. The company is exploring additional global markets for its fish goods.
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Wikipedia