Persian Gulf: Difference between revisions

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	] leads to the ]. Detail from ].]]		] leads to the ]. Detail from ].]]

	The '''Arabian Gulf''' (]: خليج عربي līj-e-Arab in]: الخليج ~~الفارسي~~ ''al-khalīj al-fārisī''), in the ] region, is an extension of the ] located between ] (]) and the ].		The '''Arabian Gulf''' (]: خليج عربي līj-e-Arab in]: الخليج العربي''al-khalīj al-fārisī''), in the ] region, is an extension of the ] located between ] (]) and the ].

	The ~~Persian~~ Gulf was the focus of the ] that lasted from ] to ], with each side attacking the other's ]s. In ] the ~~Persian~~ Gulf again was the background for what was called the "]" or "The Gulf War" when Iraq invaded Kuwait and was subsequently pushed back, despite the fact that this conflict was primarily a land conflict.		The Arabian Gulf was the focus of the ] that lasted from ] to ], with each side attacking the other's ]s. In ] the Arabian Gulf again was the background for what was called the "]" or "The Gulf War" when Iraq invaded Kuwait and was subsequently pushed back, despite the fact that this conflict was primarily a land conflict.

	The natural environment of the ~~Persian~~ Gulf is very rich with good fishing grounds, extensive coral reefs, and abundant pearl oysters, but has become increasingly under pressure due to the heavy industrialisation and in particular the repeated major oil spillages associated with recent wars fought in the region.		The natural environment of the Arabian Gulf is very rich with good fishing grounds, extensive coral reefs, and abundant pearl oysters, but has become increasingly under pressure due to the heavy industrialisation and in particular the repeated major oil spillages associated with recent wars fought in the region.

	==Geography==		==Geography==
	] is the dramatic constriction on the right third.]]		] is the dramatic constriction on the right third.]]
	This inland sea of some 233,000 km² is connected to the Gulf of Oman in the east by the ], and its western end is marked by the major ] of ], which carries the waters of the ] and the ]. Its length is 989 kilometres separating mainly Iran from Saudi Arabia with the shortest divide of about 56 kilometres in the Strait of Hormuz. The waters are overall very shallow and have a maximum depth of 90 metres, and an average depth of 50 metres.		This inland sea of some 233,000 km² is connected to the Gulf of Oman in the east by the ], and its western end is marked by the major ] of ], which carries the waters of the ] and the ]. Its length is 989 kilometres separating mainly Iran from Saudi Arabia with the shortest divide of about 56 kilometres in the Strait of Hormuz. The waters are overall very shallow and have a maximum depth of 90 metres, and an average depth of 50 metres.

	Countries with a coastline on the ~~Persian~~ Gulf are (clockwise, from the north): ], ] (exclave of Musandam), ], ], ] on a ] off the Saudi coast, ] on an island, ] and ] in the northwest. Various small islands lie within the ~~Persian~~ Gulf.		Countries with a coastline on the Arabian Gulf are (clockwise, from the north): ], ] (exclave of Musandam), ], ], ] on a ] off the Saudi coast, ] on an island, ] and ] in the northwest. Various small islands lie within the Arabian Gulf.

	==Oil & Gas==		==Oil & Gas==
	The ~~Persian~~ Gulf and its coastal areas are the world's largest single source of ] and related industries dominate the region. ], the world's largest offshore ], is located in the Gulf. Large gas finds have also been made with Qatar and Iran sharing a giant field across the territorial median line (North Field in the Qatari sector; South Pars Field in the Iranian sector). Using this gas, Qatar has built up a substantial liquified natural gas (]) and petrochemical industry.		The Arabian Gulf and its coastal areas are the world's largest single source of ] and related industries dominate the region. ], the world's largest offshore ], is located in the Gulf. Large gas finds have also been made with Qatar and Iran sharing a giant field across the territorial median line (North Field in the Qatari sector; South Pars Field in the Iranian sector). Using this gas, Qatar has built up a substantial liquified natural gas (]) and petrochemical industry.

	The oil-rich countries (excluding ]) that have a coastline on the ~~Persian~~ Gulf are referred to as the '']''. They are ], ], ], ], ], ] and ~~the~~ ]. Iraq's egress to the gulf is narrow and easily blockaded consisting of the marshy river delta of Shatt al-Arab, which carries the waters of the Euphrates and the Tigris rivers, where the left (East) bank is held by Iran.		The oil-rich countries (excluding ]) that have a coastline on the Arabian Gulf are referred to as the '']''. They are ], ], ], ], ], ] and ]. Iraq's egress to the gulf is narrow and easily blockaded consisting of the marshy river delta of Shatt al-Arab, which carries the waters of the Euphrates and the Tigris rivers, where the left (East) bank is held by Iran.

	==Naming dispute==		==Naming dispute==
	{{Mainarticle\|Persian Gulf naming dispute}}		{{Mainarticle\|Persian Gulf naming dispute}}
	].]]		].]]
	Since the 1960s, starting with ], Persian Gulf's Arabs and their states have often used the name ''Arabian Gulf'' (in ]: الخلیج العربي ''al-khalīj al-ʿarabī'') for the body. This is controversial, and ~~not~~ commonly used outside of the Arab world or ~~recognized~~ by the ] and other international organizations as historically the name is "~~Persian~~ Gulf". "Arabian Gulf" is also an ancient name for the ].		Since the 1960s, starting with ], Persian Gulf's Arabs and their states have often used the name ''Arabian Gulf'' (in ]: الخلیج العربي ''al-khalīj al-ʿarabī'') for the body. This is controversial, and commonly used outside of the Arab world and known by the ] and other international organizations as historically the name is "Arabian Gulf". "Arabian Gulf" is also an ancient name for the ].

	== British residency==		== British residency==
	{{Mainarticle\| British Residency of the ~~Persian~~ Gulf}}		{{Mainarticle\| British Residency of the Arabian Gulf}}
	From 1763 until 1971, the ] maintained varying degrees of political control over some ~~Persian~~ Gulf states, including the ] (originally called the "Trucial Coast States") and at various times ], ], ], and ].		From 1763 until 1971, the ] maintained varying degrees of political control over some Arabian Gulf states, including the ] (originally called the "Trucial Coast States") and at various times ], ], ], and ].

	==See also==		==See also==
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Revision as of 06:40, 25 August 2006

It has been suggested that Arabian Gulf States be merged into this article. (Discuss)

File:Arabian Gulf map.png

Map of the Arabian Gulf. The Gulf of Oman leads to the Arabian Sea. Detail from larger map of the Middle East.

The Arabian Gulf (Persian: خليج عربي līj-e-Arab in]: الخليج العربيal-khalīj al-fārisī), in the Southwest Asian region, is an extension of the Gulf of Oman located between Iran (Persia) and the Arabian Peninsula.

The Arabian Gulf was the focus of the Iraq-Iran War that lasted from 1980 to 1988, with each side attacking the other's oil tankers. In 1991 the Arabian Gulf again was the background for what was called the "Arabian Gulf War" or "The Gulf War" when Iraq invaded Kuwait and was subsequently pushed back, despite the fact that this conflict was primarily a land conflict.

The natural environment of the Arabian Gulf is very rich with good fishing grounds, extensive coral reefs, and abundant pearl oysters, but has become increasingly under pressure due to the heavy industrialisation and in particular the repeated major oil spillages associated with recent wars fought in the region.

Geography

Satellite image showing the Arabian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz is the dramatic constriction on the right third.

This inland sea of some 233,000 km² is connected to the Gulf of Oman in the east by the Strait of Hormuz, and its western end is marked by the major river delta of Shatt al-Arab, which carries the waters of the Euphrates and the Tigris. Its length is 989 kilometres separating mainly Iran from Saudi Arabia with the shortest divide of about 56 kilometres in the Strait of Hormuz. The waters are overall very shallow and have a maximum depth of 90 metres, and an average depth of 50 metres.

Countries with a coastline on the Arabian Gulf are (clockwise, from the north): Iran, Oman (exclave of Musandam), United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar on a peninsula off the Saudi coast, Bahrain on an island, Kuwait and Iraq in the northwest. Various small islands lie within the Arabian Gulf.

Oil & Gas

The Arabian Gulf and its coastal areas are the world's largest single source of crude oil and related industries dominate the region. Al-Safaniya, the world's largest offshore oilfield, is located in the Gulf. Large gas finds have also been made with Qatar and Iran sharing a giant field across the territorial median line (North Field in the Qatari sector; South Pars Field in the Iranian sector). Using this gas, Qatar has built up a substantial liquified natural gas (LNG) and petrochemical industry.

The oil-rich countries (excluding Iraq) that have a coastline on the Arabian Gulf are referred to as the Arabian Gulf States. They are Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Iran. Iraq's egress to the gulf is narrow and easily blockaded consisting of the marshy river delta of Shatt al-Arab, which carries the waters of the Euphrates and the Tigris rivers, where the left (East) bank is held by Iran.

Naming dispute

Main article: Persian Gulf naming dispute

Since the 1960s, starting with Gamal Abdel Nasser, Persian Gulf's Arabs and their states have often used the name Arabian Gulf (in Arabic: الخلیج العربي al-khalīj al-ʿarabī) for the body. This is controversial, and commonly used outside of the Arab world and known by the United Nations and other international organizations as historically the name is "Arabian Gulf". "Arabian Gulf" is also an ancient name for the Red Sea.

British residency

Main article: British Residency of the Arabian Gulf

From 1763 until 1971, the United Kingdom maintained varying degrees of political control over some Arabian Gulf states, including the United Arab Emirates (originally called the "Trucial Coast States") and at various times Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar.

External links

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