Sea turtles
Sea turtles
Sea turtles and the coastal landscape of Oman have formed a symbiosis for thousands of years. These prehistoric reptiles are, however, threatened with extinction and are protected worldwide. For this reason, the government of Oman has established several nature reserves along the coast. The approximately 2000 km long coastline of the country serves as an important site for egg-laying and thus reproduction for sea turtles. It is the most important breeding ground for sea turtles in the Indian Ocean. Of the seven species of sea turtles that live worldwide, five nest on the beaches of Oman. This is a world record.
Turtles live almost exclusively in water; only the female individuals come ashore to lay their eggs. On average, sea turtles live to be 100 years old and only become sexually mature at around 40 years of age. They feed on jellyfish, shellfish, seagrass, or algae.
The so-called Lepidochelys olivacea (Olive Ridley turtle) has its breeding site on the coast of Oman. Unfortunately, scientists predict a poor future for them. It seems certain that this species will be extinct in a few years. The situation is different for the Chelonia mydas (Green sea turtle). Its preferred nesting area is along the coastline between Ras al-Hadd and Ra’s ar Ru’ays. Further south, in the region around Masirah Island, is the largest population of Caretta (Loggerhead turtle). The Daymaniyat Islands are home to a reserve for the Eretmochelys imbricata (Hawksbill turtle). The fifth species of sea turtle, Dermochelys coriacea (Leatherback turtle), also inhabits the waters of Oman but does not breed here. The uniqueness lies in the size of this animal. It measures over 2 meters and weighs between 500 and 900 kg.
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Ancient times
Already in the third century, the eastern Arabian Peninsula was inhabited by the Umm an-Nar culture, whose territory extended from present-day UAE to the northern part of Oman. Important trading partners for this early culture were the Sumerians as well as the Indus Valley culture in present-day Pakistan. The land was then referred to as Magan and was limited to the present northern part of the sultanate. Little is known about the organization of this culture, aside from a mention by Naram-Sin of Akkad (2200 BC) about a victory over King Manium of Magan. Due to the existing copper deposits in...
General Economic Situation
The general economic situation in Oman is very good. The country owes this to two factors: firstly, the very prudent leadership of the Sultan Qaboos and secondly, the oil and gas resources in the country. However, in recent years, the importance of other sectors of the economy has also been understood, and efforts have been made to promote them further. Thus, the tourism industry, industrial enterprises in general, and agriculture have also become important components of the domestic economy, even though the sale of oil and gas still accounts for around 80% of the government's revenue. The de...
Air Traffic in Oman
The air traffic in Oman has now been well developed. The route network is well organized and utilized by various airlines, allowing for healthy price competition. Leading in Oman is, of course, the state airline 'Oman Air' based in Muscat. Thanks to several national and international airports, air traffic in Oman is well organized. The country is easily accessible for both cargo and passenger planes. Entry possibilities Those who want to travel to Oman have three options: You can reach the country on the Persian Gulf by cruise, cross the border by car or bus from Dubai, or fly to Oman from ...