Masirah Island
| Native name: مصيرة | |
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 Masirah
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| Geography | |
| Location | Arabian Sea |
| Coordinates | 20°28′16″N 58°48′55″E / 20.47111°N 58.81528°ECoordinates: 20°28′16″N 58°48′55″E / 20.47111°N 58.81528°E |
| Major islands | a small island |
| Area | 649 km2 (251 sq mi) |
| Length | 95 km (59 mi) |
| Width | 12–14 km (7.5–8.7 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 256 m (840 ft) |
| Highest point | Jabal Madrub |
| Administration | |
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Oman
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| Region | Ash Sharqiyah Region |
| Wilayah (Province) | Masirah |
| Largest settlement | Ras-Hilf |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 12,000 |
| Pop. density | 18.49 /km2 (47.89 /sq mi) |
 Oman
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| Location | Masirah Island Oman |
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| Coordinates | 20°10′16.8″N 58°38′22.6″E / 20.171333°N 58.639611°E |
| Year first constructed | ~2014 |
| Foundation | concrete basement |
| Construction | fiberglass tower |
| Tower shape | cylibdrical tower |
| Markings / pattern | red and white horizontal bands tower |
| Height | 10 metres (33 ft) |
| Focal height | 89 metres (292 ft) |
| Light source | solar power |
| Characteristic | Fl W 10s. |
| Admiralty number | 7315.98 |
Masirah or Mazeira Island (Arabic: مصيرة) is an island off the East coast of mainland Oman and the largest island of Oman. It is 95 km long north-south, between 12 and 14 km wide, with an area of about 649 km², and a population estimated at 12,000 in 12 villages mainly in the north of the island (9,292 as of the census of 2003, of which were 2,311 foreigners). Administratively, it forms one of the eleven provinces (Arabic: ولاية, plural ولايات, transliteration: wilayah, plural wilayat) of the Ash Sharqiyah Region. The principal village is Ras-Hilf in the northern part of the island. It contains a Royal Air Force of Oman air base and a fish factory, as well as a few small towns. Previously, the BBC had a relay facility consisting of both HF and MF broadcasting transmitters stationed there. Most of the island's interior is deserted, with access to the island only possible by a small ferry for cars or by Royal Air Force of Oman Airbus A320 or Lockheed C-130 Hercules flights.
The main industries are fishing and traditional textile manufacturing. Formerly, traditional ship building was important.
The rugged terrain of the island and surrounding rough coastline has led to the appearance of many wrecked dhows on the beaches of the island, most of them well preserved by the salt water and intense heat. About 2:20 A.M. on 21 September 1835, the USS Peacock grounded on a coral reef. At high noon, the latitude was determined to be 20° 00′ north, and the longitude 58° 5″ east. Peacock later obtained this letter:
I certify that during the period I have navigated the Arabian coast, and been employed in the trigonometrical survey of the same, now executing by order of the Bombay government, that I have ever found it necessary to be careful to take nocturnal as well as diurnal observations, as frequent as possible, owing to the rapidity and fickleness of the currents, which, in some parts, I have found running at the rate of three and four knots, and I have known the Palinurus set between forty and fifty miles dead in shore, in a dead calm, during the night.
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Wikipedia