Qeshm is the largest Iranian island in the Strait of Hormuz, and separated from the mainland by the Clarence Strait/Khuran in the Persian Gulf.
Qeshm is the largest Iranian island in the Strait of Hormuz, and separated from the mainland by the Clarence Strait/Khuran in the Persian Gulf. Qeshm is a free trade zone which has a great significance for Iran. Qeshm city, located at the easternmost point of the island, is 22 kilometres (14 miles) from Bandar Abbas. Qeshm is famous for its wide range of ecotourist attractions such as the Hara marine forests. According to environmentalists, about 1.5% of the world birds and 25% of Iran's native birds annually migrate to the forests, which are the first national geo park. An ancient Portuguese fort, historic mosques, Seyyed Mozaffar and Bibi Maryam shrines, various ponds and mangrove forests are among the tourism attractions in the island, which sits across the azure waters of the Persian Gulf. Also there are many small villages in Qeshm Island where you can see the traditional coastal lifestyles. Several domes, salty caves, the preserved area in Shibderaz Village where Hawksbill turtles hatch as well as numerous ports and wharfs are among the tourist potentials of the island. The Nazz Islands are located at the south wing of Qeshm Island. Oysters, corals, colorful fishes and sea birds in these islands attract many tourists. It is possible to walk toward the island on soft and wet gravel through a gravel connection way between these islands and Qeshm at the time of the ebb. Women's clothing is also specific to the region. The behavior, lifestyle, clothing and appearance of the locals are completely different from what you see in other cities of Iran.
Qeshm, an Iranian island with a total area of about 1,500 square kilometers, is located in the Strait of Hormuz. It is the world’s biggest dependent territory whose area is larger than 22 countries [combined]. The island, which comprises 65 hamlets and three towns, is also the biggest island in the Persian Gulf home to more than 100,000 people.
Thanks to its strategic position, Qeshm Island has always had a unique position throughout history from the Elamites period to the present time. This island has multiple upsides, among them: access to high seas, domestic and Central Asian markets and to the southern part of the Persian Gulf; abundant skilled workforce; huge energy reserves, including gas; deep coastline waters which makes it ideal for building wharfs to allow high tonnage vessels to dock; and intact coral reefs, especially in Naz, Hengam and Larak islands which are adjacent to Qeshm.
Due to natural beauty and richness of the island, especially its western part, serious measures have been taken to protect it and about 500 square kilometers have been set aside as a geopark. Qeshm geopark has 8 major sites including:
Chah Kooh Channel-Stars oftadeh valley-A`li Channel-Tandis ha valley-Shour valley-Namakdan-DOULAB-koorkoora kooh. Also Qeshm geopark has a museum exhibiting the area`s wild nature, and images of geological phenomena in the geopark. Due to its variety of geological phenomena and variety of its sites, Qeshm geopark has better position in comparison with other geoparks. Of course this variety is not limited to geological phenomena. There are other varieties in ecology, archeology, environment, wild nature etc. The fact that the coasts are located beside the geopark has multiplied the beauty of this geopark.
Zakeri pier is located on the north coast, in the old part of the Island. It has the capacity of landing crafts up to 1000 Ton and barge- for import and export and commodities and passengers traverse using boats and speed boat On Qeshm to Bandar Abbas route and vice versa.