Middle East
History of Qatar
Lying in the east of Arabia, the peninsula of Qatar borders the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia. As per the geography of Qatar, the country is strategically located near the prime petroleum deposits of the Middle Eastern region.
Jutting about 160 kilometers into the Persian Gulf, Qatar is spread over 11,437 square kilometers of area. It has a land boundary of about 60 kilometers, and is a mere 30 kms from Bahrain. Qatar has a coastline of 563 kms, and its highest point is Qurayn Abu al Bawl (103 m).
The geographical features of Qatar are interestingly varied. The terrain here is mainly flat and rocky. One can also find coastal salt pans, huge sand dunes surrounding an inlet of the Gulf, elevated limestone formations that are formed above the Dukhan oil field, etc. There are a few tiny islands sprinkled all around the peninsula - Halul and Hawar being the most popular ones.
Doha, the national capital, lies on a sweeping harbor along the central east coast of Qatar. Al Wakra and Umm Said are two other very important ports here.
The weather of Qatar is quite predictable and unbearable between June and September. Tourists coming from colder regions like Europe and Americas usually have a tough time battling extreme conditions prevalent here. During summers, temperatures exceed 55ºC and the weather is hot and dry.
Winters - November to May - are characterized by a pleasurable climate, with temperatures averaging 20ºC. Rainfall is almost negligible in Qatar, as the region experiences an average of 100 millimeters per year of rains. Occasionally, there are sudden dust storms that disrupt normalcy and cause small damages.
The most-used natural resources in Qatar are petroleum, natural gas and fishes. Due to lack of adequate natural fresh water resources, the country is hugely dependent on desalination facilities.
| About Qatar | |