Kish Island

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Kish Island
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native_name = جزیره‌ی کیش
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = IRN
subdivision_type1 = Hormozgān Province
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area_land_km2 = 91.5
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area_land_sq_mi = 35.3
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population_as_of = 2006
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population_total = 20922
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population_metro = 20922
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timezone = IRST
utc_offset = +3:30
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latd=26 |latm=32 |lats= |latNS=N
longd=53 |longm=58 |longs= |longEW=E
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website = [http://www.kish.ir Kish Free Zone Organization]
[http://www.hormozgan.ir Hormozgan Province]
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Kish (PerB|کیش) is a resort island in the Persian Gulf. It is part of the Hormozgān Province of Iran. Due to its free trade zone status it is touted as a consumer's paradise, with numerous malls, shopping centres, tourist attractions, and resort hotels. It has an estimated population of 20,000 residents and about 1.5 million people visit the island annually. [ [http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=29180&sectionid=351020108 Press TV - Iran builds 1st solar hotel on Kish ] ] The area of the island is 91.5 km². Kish Island is the purported to be the third most visited Western-oriented cities in the Middle East, after Sharm el-Sheikh and Dubai.Fact|date=January 2008 Foreign nationals wishing to enter Kish Free Zone from legal ports are not required to obtain visas prior to travel. Valid travel permits are be stamped for 14 days by airport and Kish port police officials.

History

Kish Island has been mentioned in history variously as Kamtina, Arakia, Arakata, and Ghiss. In 325 BC, Alexander the Great commissioned Nearchus to set off an expedition voyage into the Sea of Oman and the Persian Gulf. Nearchus's writings on Arakata is the first known mention of Kish Island in antiquity.ref label|kishhistory|1|a When Marco Polo visited the Imperial court in China, he commented on the Emperor's wife's pearls, he was told that they were from Kish.ref label|kishhistory|2|a In the 1970s the last Shah of Iran turned the island into a luxury resort for the international elite complete with a Grand Casino (now known as the Shayan International Hotel) and an airport designed to handle the Concorde. After the Islamic Revolution, Kish Island became a duty-free shopping center.Some references have already been made to the islands origin and natural history. But not much reliable and written material is found concerning its ancient social history. There must have certainly been left somewhere written account or other evidence about this island which might have been destroyed by foreign enemies who invaded the island. To be sure, Kish must have experienced periods of hardship and ruination during the natural tribulation of its long history. It must have been invaded often and rule by alien forces. But Kish Island in the Persian Gulf has remained, like other islands such as Qeshm and Hormuz, an integral part of the safety reasons, not far from the coastlines, Kish was frequently used as a port of call by the ancient mariners who got drinking water and other necessities from the islanders. Kish island's strategic position served as a way station and link for the ancient Assyrian and Elamite civilization when their primitive sailboats navigated from Susa through Karoun river into the Persian Gulf and along the southern coastline passing Kish, Qeshm and Hormoz islands. Kish was, in particular, economically and politically linked with the civilization of the Medes and Persian and Arian people when they were in the height of their power. And when this civilization vanished, the Kish Island's advantageous position was lost and for a period was subjected to turmoil and the tyranny of the local potentates and other venders. With the establishment of the Achaemenian emirs that reached the far concerns of the civilized world and contributed much to human advancement, the Persian Gulf was profoundly affected. In the shadow of the empire, the islands in the Gulf became prosperous and navigation in the gulf was expanded and better vessels were used to carry passengers and goods. Navigational signs, including lighthouses, were set up to facilities navigation in the gulf. Because of its proximity to the mainland Persia, Kish Island resumed its advantageous position and enjoyed many benefits until the end of the Ashkanid (the Parthians) and Sassanid empires.

Geography

Kish is located in the Persian Gulf and has an area of around 91 km². Along Kish's coast are coral reefs and many other small islands. The climate of Kish is mild in the winter and hot and humid in the summer. Kish island has a surface area of 90 square kilometers, with an outer boundary of 40 km, and a nearly elliptical shape. It is located in the Persian Gulf 19 km from mainland Iran. The Island is positioned along the 1359km long Iranian coastline north of the Persian Gulf, at the first quarter from the Hormuz entrance to the Gulf. Its longitudinal and latitudinal positions are 26.32 and 53.58 degrees respectively. The Island is 15.45 km long from west coast to the east coast. (The distance between Mariam Complex and Hoor field). Its maximum width extending from the southern shorelines to the northern shorelines is 7.5 km. (The distance between Gomrok Port and the lighthouse.) The island's surface is flat, lacking mountains or even high hills. Kish International Airport is built in the center on an elevated area 35-40 meters from the sea level. Its highest surface inclination extends from the airport to the shores near Shayan hotel.

Climate, Nature, and Geobotany

Kish, like the other Persian Gulf Islands, especially the islands in the Strait of Hormuz, is located on a narrow strip of tropical vegetation in the Northern Hemisphere, with the Persian plateau to the north and the Arabian Peninsula to the south. In addition to its special geographic and climatic attributes, Kish Island, like other nearby islands, such as Farrow, Hindorabi, Shatuar and Lavan and even Gheshm, is under the sway of the semi-equatorial climate dominating this band of vegetation.

The Weather

Since vital climates are influenced by the combined effects of rainfalls and humidity and are measured by the ratio of the size of annual rainfalls in millimeters to the degree of temperatures is less than 2 to 1. According to this measure, Kish's climate is considered to be a very dry semi equatorial climate. For an 8 years span of time, the median annual rainfall in Kish has been 145mm (54% in winter, 28% autumn and 14% in summer) and the annual temperature 26.6 Celsius. The relative atmospheric humidity in Kish makes it like a sea island except in cold seasons. The humidity is about 60% most of the year. In the months of October to April, Kish's weather is mild, ranging between 18 to 25 Celsius. The statistical data in the Kish free zone's archives show that the island's temperature varies form very hot to moderately hot, accompanied by relatively high humidity often interspersed by heavy rains of short durations in certain seasons. With the exception of some southeastern coastal areas and a few other islands in the Persian Gulf, Kish Island has the longest sunny hours in the region which is roughly 3100 hours a year. Based on climatological classification and general weather conditions and nearness to the Tropic of Cancer and exposure to high tropical pressure system and being in the midst of hot and shallow waters, the island tends to be hot and humid most of the year. [http://www.kish.ir/HomePage.aspx?TabID=4734&Site=DouranPortal&Lang=en-US]

Economy

Since the mid-1990s the Iranian government has embarked on an aggressive promotional and developmental campaign to tailor Kish as a rival to Dubai but mainly a big rival to Doha. Steps taken in order to accomplish this include launching massive construction projects and programs designed to attract foreign investment and trade. Within the area of the "Kish Free Zone", as it is known, the standard laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran are far more relaxed than on the mainland, which has resulted in significant increases in mostly domestic tourist population over the years, as well as in international trade on the island. However, alcohol is not available on the island, just like the rest of Iran. It has been suggested that this is a significant barrier for the development of Kish because an alcohol free island is somewhat unsuitable for western tourists. The population of the island includes significant numbers of both Muslims and Christians.

Education

Kish is home to Kish University, a university founded in 1996, it now has 360 students.The importance of public education from the beginning to the highest expert scientific levels as a main element in the steady development of Kish is now being paid special attention.

Some of the most important activities include supporting and expanding existing educational centres, creating new educational centres, using new technology in developing educational activities, exploiting creditable educational national and international experiences, creating the foundations for all social classes to benefit from educational possibilities, the development of applied sciences regionally, and the promotion of university education levels through holding courses with creditable universities home and abroad. Activities carried out in the educational section on general education, basic education, and higher education is presented as follows:KFZO has made efforts to create educational centres for basic education and provided facilities to promote the quality and quantity of education. Creating educational spaces by building new schools and giving priority to technical and vocational courses are some of the activities carried out. Kish schools have been located so as to make it easily accessible, especially for the local population. Considering the increased educational facilities, and also the better living conditions of families in Kish, the number of students at each level is on the increase. The total area space for educational space on the island was over 4658 square metres in 2005, which shows a 40% rise as compared to the beginning of 2001. Furthermore, KFZO has set up institutions in parts of the island, which the inhabitants, including many civil servants and members of the general public, use them. These include:

- Kish Institute of Arts and Sciences (teaching foreign languages)

- Kish Institute of Graph-Rayaneh (teaching computer)

- Parto Institute (teaching English)

- Sadaf Cultural Centre

- Mir Mohana Cultural Centre

- Sana'ei Cultural Centre [http://www.kish.ir/HomePage.aspx?TabID=4772&Site=DouranPortal&Lang=en-US]

Sports

Kish acts as the location for numerous international sporting event. Kish Island is part of the Professional Squash Association's annual tour, holding the Fajr International Squash Championship. Kish Island also holds Iran's Traditional and Heroic Games Contests annually attracting over 17 countries worldwide. As part of the Flower of the East project Kish will have an 18-hole championship golf course based on PGA standards and a 9-hole course for beginners. Kish is home to a multi-purpose Olympic stadium seating 1200 spectators, it caters for 11 sports including volleyball, basketball, handball, futsal, gymnastics, wrestling, taekwondo, judo, karate and chess. All of these are supervised by professional and international coaches. It attracts top national football teams and clubs who often use Kish as summer training camp with high quality facilities, good weather and a tranquille environment making it a good location. The Kish Karting Track is one of the largest in the Middle East, and one of the first of its kind in Iran. A great array of water sports are also on offer in Kish such as snorkeling and scuba diving courses, jet skiing, diving cruises, water skiing, sea skiffs, cruises to other islands around Kish, parasailing, jet boat rides, cruise fishing boats, pedal boating, banana boat rides, and windsurfing. Maryam Bowling Complex not only has 16 bowling lanes but also has a health club with a fitness suite and a jacuzzi. Kish Equestrian Club hosts national races and the high standards present at the club make it suitable for holding international competitions. Kish has 3 international standard volleyball courts, Kish held the 2006 Asian Men's Beach Volleyball Championship. Rumors indacated it as a possible future FIA Formula One World Championship venue.

Major Kish Island Projects

International oil bourse

The International Oil Bourse is a commodity exchange which opened on February 17, 2008

Dariush Grand Hotel

Dariush, a $125 million five star hotel with over 200 guest rooms, is located near the eastern sandy beaches of the island. The hotel was built to be a reminder of Persepolis, a symbol of the glory and splendor of the ancient Iranian civilization. The hotel was designed and developed by the European-Iranian entrepreneur and hotel tycoon, Hossein Sabet, who owns and manages several tourist attractions and hotels in the Canary islands. The hotel was completed in 2003 and was managed by the Scandinavian-based Rezidor Hotel Group group until 2006.

Kish Hidden Pearl

In 1999, a project to build an underground complex was begun by 300 artists and excavation workers. After deep excavations rigid coral ceilings were discovered, and this was included in the final design. Once completed, the city will include restaurants, tourist resorts and underground therapeutic mud pools.

Flower of The East

The Flower of the East complex is a massive 1.7 billion Euro tourist attraction began in 2004 and is expected to be completed by 2009. The project will include a 7-star and two 5-star hotels, three residential areas, villas and apartment complexes, coffee shops, luxury showrooms and stores, sports facilities and marina. The project is managed by the German firm Dress and Sommer.

Kish Dolphin Park

The Dolphin Park is 10,000 square metres large and is located at the south east corner of Kish Island. The Dolphin Park is surrounded by over 12,000 palm trees. The park includes a Dolphinarium, Butterfly Garden, Silkworm Compound, Exotic Bird Garden, Artificial Rain Forest, Volcanic Mountain, The World Of Orchids and Cactus Garden.

Solar Powered Hotel

Hossein Sabet owner of the Sabet Hotels Group which includes the Dariush Grand Hotel and many other hotels on the island is set to build the first solar powered hotel in the Middle East on the island. "Cyrus Hotel" will be 7-star costing $520 million and will have 500 rooms, 23 floors in an area of 100,000 square meters. The hotel is set to be complete in October 2009. [ [http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=29180&sectionid=351020108 Press TV - Iran builds 1st solar hotel on Kish ] ] [ [http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20071031042815 Kish Hotel to Use Solar Energy - Middle East News ] ] [ [http://english.baztab.com/content/?cid=5091 Baztab News ] ] When the hotel is complete, Iran will have the highest number of 7-star hotels in the world with a total of two (Flower of the East Hotel and The Solar Powered hotel).

References

See also

* Iran airshow
* Economy of Iran
* Foreign Direct Investment in Iran
* Chabahar free trade-industrial zone
* Kish Air
* Kish International Airport
* Flower of the East
* Robert Levinson

External links

* [http://www.kish.ir Kish Free Zone Organization]
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