Geography of Qatar

The peninsula of Qatar is low-lying. Its shape is the surface expression of the Qatar Arch, one of the largest structural characteristics of the Arabian Plate.[2] It is enveloped by loose sand and pebbles broken off the outcropping limestone. Smooth plains are found in the east, where the surface is covered by fine-grained dust. The south and south-west portion of the peninsula mainly comprises sand dunes and salt flats.[3] Hill ranges (called 'jebels') can be found in western Qatar near the Dukhan area and at Jebel Fuwayrit on the northeast coast.[4] Jebel Nakhsh is a notable mountain ridge south of Dukhan and contains substantial deposits of gypsum.[5]

The coastline, which is roughly 700km²,[6] is emergent and gently slopes toward the sea. Many flat, low-lying offshore islands are located near the coast and are accompanied by coral reefs.[3] As a result of salt water coming into contact with the low-lying land, many salt flats (known locally as sabkhas) have formed near the coast.[3] The coastline from Mesaieed to Khawr al Udayd is particularly rich in sabkhas. Inland sabkhas can be found in western in Qatar near Dukhan and Sawda Natheel.[6]

A sabkha (salt-flat) ecosystem known as the Dukhan Sabkha is found in the northern section of the Dukhan region in western Qatar. This sabkha, considered the largest inland sabkha in the Persian Gulf, runs for approximately 20 km, occupies an area of 73 km², has a width of 2 to 4 km and a depth of between 6 and 7 meters.[7] It also accommodates the lowest point of Qatar, at six meters below sea level.[6] Studies suggest that the sabkha is fed by seawater from the Bay of Zekreet, north by approximately 3 km.[8]

The long summer (June through September) is characterized by intense heat and alternating dryness and humidity, with temperatures exceeding 40 °C (104 °F).[1] Temperatures are moderate from November to March,[1] ranging from as high as 39 °C (102 °F) in April to as low as 7 °C (45 °F) in January.[9] Rainfall averages 100 mm (3.9 in) per year, confined to the winter months, and falling in brief storms which are occasionally heavy enough to flood the small ravines and the usually dry wadis.[1]

Sudden, violent dust storms occasionally descend on the peninsula, blotting out the sun, causing wind damage, and temporarily disrupting transport and other services.[1]

The scarcity of rainfall and the limited underground water, most of which has such a high mineral content that it is unsuitable for drinking or irrigation, severely restricted the population and the extent of agricultural and industrial development the country could support until desalination projects began.[1] Although water continues to be provided from underground sources, most is obtained by desalination of seawater.[1]

Topography of Qatar

Qatar has one land border. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the south. The boundary with Saudi Arabia was settled in 1965 but never demarcated.[1] Qatar's northwest coast is fewer than 30 km (19 mi) from the main islands of Bahrain,[1] while the small Hawar Islands of Bahrain are only 1.4 km (0.8 mi) off that coast. The peninsula's northernmost point is Ras Rakan.[22]

Based on estimates in 2011 estimates, 5.6% of the land is agricultural. Arable land comprises 1.1%, permanent crops 0.2% and permanent pasture 4.6%. 94.4% of the land was used for other uses.[23] In 2003, 129.4 km² (50.0 sq mi) of land was irrigated.[23]

Fenced-off area of Jebel Nakhsh (Nakhsh Mountain)

Limestone hillock on northern end of Al Khor Island

Most of Qatar's surface lies on Cenozoic strata. These strata have an abundance of mineral resources, most of which have not yet been exploited, such as limestone and clay.[26] The Upper Dammam Formation in the Middle Eocene period is the most predominant surface layer. It is constituted by limestone and Dolomite.[27] The northern zone of Qatar, which comprises the most significant source of fresh groundwater in the peninsula, primarily draws its water from the Umm Err Radhuma Formation and Rus Formation dating to the Paleocene and Lower Eocene periods, respectively.[28] The Mesozoic strata are the most important layers as they contain petroleum. The first substantial deposit of crude oil was discovered in 1940 in the Jurassic period Arab Formation.[29]

A massive sandstorm sweeping over the Persian Gulf state of Qatar as it races southward toward southeastern Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates on February 15, 2004

The capital, Doha, is located on the central east coast on a sweeping (if shallow) harbor.[1] Other ports include Umm Said, Al Khawr, and Al Wakrah. Only Doha and Umm Said are capable of handling commercial shipping, although a large port and a terminal for loading natural gas are planned at Ras Laffan Industrial City, north of Al Khawr.[1] Coral reefs and shallow coastal waters make navigation difficult in areas where channels have not been dredged.[1]

Doha is the capital of the country and the major administrative, commercial, and population center.[1] In 1993 it was linked to other towns and development sites by a system of about 1,000 km (620 mi) of paved roads.[1] Doha's international airport has an approximately 4,500 m (14,800 ft) main runway, capable of receiving all kinds of aircraft.[1]

Historically, settlement distribution in Qatar has mainly been dictated by the presence of obtainable fresh groundwater.[14] Rawdas, which are depressions with shallow groundwater, have typically been the most popular sites of settlement throughout the peninsula.[15] In Qatar's south, where groundwater is exceedingly difficult to obtain, settlement formation was mostly limited to wadis (dry river valleys) fed by run-off from nearby hills and rawdas.[14]

Qatar is currently party to the following international environmental agreements:[23]

• Biodiversity
• Climate Change
• Desertification
• Hazardous Wastes
• Law of the Sea
• Ozone Layer Protection

• Casey, Paula; Vine, Peter (1991). The heritage of Qatar (print ed.). Immel Publishing. ISBN 978-0-907151-50-0.

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• "East of Qatar". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.