Zekreet Peninsula

The Zekreet Peninsula, also known as the Abrouq Peninsula, is a peninsula in western Qatar, located to the north of the industrial city of Dukhan. Much of the area is associated with erosional landforms such as foothills, mesas and gypsum plateaux.[1] The village of Zekreet, the Zekreet Film City, and the headland of Ras Abrouq (which includes a nature reserve for wild deer)[2] are all found on this stretch of land.[3] The peninsula is part of the Al Reem Biosphere Reserve.[4]

Richard Serra's East-West/West-East installation in the Zekreet Peninsula

Geography

One of its defining features is the Bay of Zekreet, which is shaped like a half-moon.[3]

Geology
An Arabian oryx in a rawda near Zekreet Film City

The Abarug Member of the Eocene-period Dammam Formation is the dominant structural-lithic unit of the area. The uppermost part of the Abarug Member is formed of dull-colored slightly calcareous dolomitic limestone and is roughly 2 m thick, while the lower part is approximately 10 m thick and comprises brightly-colored slightly calcareous dolomitic marl.[5]

Wildlife

Common ostriches, wild deer and gazelles occur in the peninsula.[6] The Ministry of Municipality and Environment advises tourists not to visit during the ostrich breeding season due to their aggressive tendencies.[7]

Flamingos are commonly found near the Bay of Zekreet.[8]

The peninsula is a popular destination for foreign tourists due to its unspoiled beaches and limestone rock formations. Visitors frequently camp here overnight.[2] However, some of the natural geography has suffered as a result of litter left behind, damage to the vegetation and damage to the land caused by tourists.[9]

References
  1. M. Richtzenhain; A. Al-Jaberi; B. Böer; M. Breulmann; F. Darwish; R. Dowling; J. Grainger; O. Llewellyn; K. Muhannadi; N. Pilcher; H. Schwarze; C. Southgate; M. Sutcliffe (2008). "Towards Environmentally Friendly Tourism in Arabian Biosphere Reserves; Case Study: Al Reem, Qatar". UNESCO Doha Office. p. 21. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  2. "Ras Abrouq Rock Formations". National Tourism Council (Qatar). Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  3. "معالم (Landmarks)" (in Arabic). Ministry of Interior (Qatar). Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  4. "Biosphere Reserve Information: Al Reem". UNESCO - MAB Biosphere Reserves Directory. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  5. Jacques Leblanc (March 2008). "A Fossil Hunting Guide To the Tertiary Formations of Qatar, Middle East". academia.edu. p. 23. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  6. "Ras Abrouq Ramble". Qatar Natural History Group. 9 December 2009. Archived from the original on 31 January 2019.
  7. "Zekreet Beach". Online Qatar. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  8. "The Road to Bir Zekreet". Marhaba Qatar. 9 August 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  9. Paul Sillitoe (1 August 2014). Sustainable Development: An Appraisal from the Gulf Region. Berghahn Books. p. 261. ISBN 978-1-78238-372-7.

25°34′N 50°51′E

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