Masirah Island

Masirah

Native name: مَصِيْرَة
Masirah
Geography
Location	Arabian Sea
Coordinates	20°28′16″N 58°48′55″E / 20.47111°N 58.81528°E / 20.47111; 58.81528
Major islands	1
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
Oman
Region	Ash Sharqiyah South Governorate
Wilayah (Province)	Masirah
Largest settlement	Ras-Hilf
Demographics
Population	13,902 [1]
Pop. density	21.26/km2 (55.06/sq mi)

Masirah Island (Arabic: جَزِيْرَة مَصِيْرَة, romanized: Jazīrat Maṣīrah), also referred to as Mazeira Island or Wilāyat Maṣīrah (Arabic: وِلَايَة مَصِيْرَة), is an island off the east coast of mainland Oman in the Arabian Sea, and the largest island of the country. It is 95 km (59 mi) long north–south, between 12 and 14 km (7.5 and 8.7 mi) 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). It is divided from the mainland by the Masirah Channel.

Administratively, it forms one of the five provinces (Wilayah, plural Wilayat) of the Ash Sharqiyah South Governorate. Previously it was a province of the Ash Sharqiyah Region. The principal village is Raʾs-Ḥilf (Arabic: رَأْس حِلْف) 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. The main industries are fishing and traditional textile manufacturing. Formerly, traditional shipbuilding was important.

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 flights.