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Larak Island

Native name: جزیره لارک
Larak IslandShow map of Persian GulfLarak IslandShow map of Iran
Geography
Location	Strait of Hormuz
Coordinates	26°51′12″N 56°21′20″E / 26.85333°N 56.35556°E / 26.85333; 56.35556
Adjacent to	Persian Gulf
Area	49 km (19 sq mi)
Highest elevation	81 m (266 ft)
Administration
Iran
Province	Hormozgan
County	Qeshm County
Rural District	Larak Rural District
Largest settlement	Larak Shahri (pop. 466)
Jazīreh-ye Lārak North Lighthouse
Constructed	2008
Construction	concrete tower
Height	18 m (59 ft)
Shape	cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Markings	unpainted tower
Power source	solar power
Focal height	40 m (130 ft)
Range	18 nmi (33 km; 21 mi)
Characteristic	Fl(2) W 10s

Larak Island (also Lark Island) is an island off the coast of Iran, which has been one of Iran's major oil export points since 1987. The narrowest part of the Strait of Hormuz at a distance of 24 miles (39 km) lies between this Iranian island and Oman's Quoin Island.

History

During their occupation in the 16th century, the Portuguese built fortresses here, as well as on the nearby Qeshm and Hormuz Islands. The island contains an Iranian military base which maintains several Chinese-made Silkworm HY-2 surface-to-surface missiles placed there in 1987.

A floating terminal was established on Larak Island in June 1986. The island was bombed by Iraq in November and December 1986, as part of the Iran–Iraq War. As part of Operation Praying Mantis, the Iranian frigate Sahand was sunk by the United States Navy, 200 meters southwest of Larak Island. On 14 May 1988, the largest ship at the time, the Liberian supertanker, Seawise Giant, whilst carrying crude Iranian oil, was sunk by Iraqi anti-ship missiles off the coast of Larak Island. The ship was later refloated, repaired and used for another few years.

Demographics

Larak Island is located in the Larak Rural District, which is within the Shahab District. Two settlements are on the island: Larak Shahri and Larak Kuhi. Larak Shahri is the largest of the two villages, with a population of 466 people and 98 families.

Nature

The waters around Larak Island are one of the most diverse coral reef areas in the environment of the Persian Gulf. There are 37 species of scleractinian corals identified around Larak Island.

See also

• List of lighthouses in Iran
• Bandar Lengeh
• Hormozgān

References

1. "Larak Island Map, Weather and Photos". GetAMap. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
2. Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Iran". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
3. NGA List of Lights – Pub.112 Retrieved 1 October 2016
4. Joyner, Christopher C. (1 January 1990). The Persian Gulf War: Lessons for Strategy, Law, and Diplomacy. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 3. ISBN 978-0-313-26710-9.
5. Near East/South Asia Report. Foreign Broadcast Information Service. 1983. p. 58.
6. Metz, Helen Chapin, ed. (1989). Iran: A Country Study. Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. p. 257.
7. Conflict and Cooperation in the Gulf Region. Springer. 22 January 2009. p. 74. ISBN 978-3-531-91337-7.
8. Lloyd's Nautical Year Book. Lloyd's. 1988. p. 147. ISBN 9781850441953.
9. "Larak Kuhi: map, population, location". TipTopGlobe. Archived from the original on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
10. J. Vajed Samiei; K. Dab; P. Ghezellou; A. Shirvani (3 April 2013). "Some scleractinian corals (Scleractinia: Anthozoa) of Larak Island, Persian Gulf". Zootaxa. 3636 (1): 101–43. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3636.1.5. PMID 26042286.

External links

• Language of Larak
• Picture of Jazīreh-ye Lārak North Lighthouse
• Larak, in encyclopaedia Iranica, at https://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/encyclopaedia-iranica-online/larak-COM_11223

v t e Hormozgan Province, Iran
Capital	Bandar Abbas
Counties and cities	Abumusa County Abu Musa Bandar Abbas County Bandar Abbas Fin Bandar Lengeh County Bandar Charak Bandar Lengeh Kish Kong Bashagard County Sardasht Bastak County Bastak Jenah Kukherd Hajjiabad County Fareghan Hajjiabad Jask County Jask Khamir County Bandar Khamir Ruydar Minab County Hasht Bandi Minab Senderk Sirik Parsian County Parsian Qeshm County Dargahan Hormuz Qeshm Suza Rudan County Rudan Ziarat-e Ali
Sights	Boz Dam Caravanserai of Bastak Castle of Aamaj Castle of Siba Dariush Grand Hotel Dasak Mountain Fort of Our Lady of the Conception Geno Biosphere Reserve Hara forests of Qeshm Harireh Hindu Temple, Bandar Abbas The Historic Bath of Siba Khe Aab Mountain Kish Island Greek Ship Lashtan Castle, Bandar Lengeh Mehran River Nakh Mountain Paraw Kukherd Portuguese Castle, Qeshm Island Takhti Stadium Terenah Zeer Mountain
populated places	List of cities, towns and villages in Hormozgan Province
See also	Greater and Lesser Tunbs Hendurabi Hengam Island Hormuz Island Larak Island Lavan Island Shidvar Island Sirri Island Strait of Hormuz

v t e Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf
Abbasak Island Abu Musa Island Buneh Island Dara Island Farsi Island Forur Bozorg Island Forur Koochak Island Forurgan Island Germ Island Greater and Lesser Tunbs Hendurabi Island Hengam Island Hormuz Island Jonobi Island Kharg Island Kish Island Larak Island Lavan Island Nakhiloo Island Ommolkorm Island Qabre Nakhoda Island Qeshm Island Rostam Island Shif Island Shidvar Island Sirri Island Shomali Island Smaller Bent Island

26°51′N 56°21′E / 26.850°N 56.350°E / 26.850; 56.350

• Islands of Iran
• Qeshm County
• Landforms of Hormozgan province
• Lighthouses in Iran
• Strait of Hormuz