The Musandam Provence is separated from the rest of Oman by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This is similar how Alaska and the lower 48 states is separated by Canada. The Musandam Province forms the Starit of Houmuz across from Iran. The Strait is 21 miles at its widest point. The Strait is the entrance to the Persian Gulf.
The Musandam Provence / Peninsula is very rugged as this satellite photo shows. This made it a challenge to develop a viable infrastructure. There were very few areas where roads could be built. Access by water, by small aircraft and helicopter were available. Today there is one road on the west coast. It runs from Dubai, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE),. The peninsula lies between the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf.
The provincial capital Khasab
It looks out on the Persian Gulf and the Straits of Hormuz
(Khasab refers to the fertility. the blessing of the soil.)
(Green dot near the top left of the satellite photo.)
Photo 1980
Every once in a while you see something from the right perspective and are carrying a camera. This photo represents that kind of luck. Interesting symmetry between the rock formation and how the village of Birkat al Mawz was formed. Photo 1980
I took this photo from a helicopter. It is a village confined to the shape of the rock formation and the Gulf of Oman. The color of the rooftops echo the beige of the terrain; a color photo with little color. In the bottom of the photo you can see the boats resting on the shore.
Photo 1980
This surrealistic scene are the fingers of land at the very end of the Musandam Peninsula. There is beauty wherever we are if we wait long enough and mindful. Photo 1980
Among all the beige and grey of the rocky crags of mountain tops there are emeralds patches of green; young rice. Rain water is captured in small reservoirs (see below) for a family to grow a crop. Photo 1980
Peter Schichel (green shirt), head of development for Musandam Province inspecting a family water reservoir on mountain peak for repair . Photo 1980
Frozen waves of geologic time.
Photo 1980
Old defensive fortification Musandam
Photo 1980
Dune Shadows at Dusk
Sand dune just outside Muscat; the capital of Oman
Photo 1980