Official Name: | Al Mafjar |
Native Name: | المفجر |
Settlement Type: | Abandoned village |
Pushpin Map: | Qatar |
Pushpin Label Position: | bottom |
Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Qatar |
Pushpin Mapsize: | 200 |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Name: | Qatar |
Subdivision Type1: | Municipality |
Subdivision Name1: | Ash Shamal |
Unit Pref: | Imperial |
Population As Of: | 2005 |
Population Blank1 Title: | Ethnicities |
Population Blank2 Title: | Religions |
Coordinates: | 26.1333°N 51.3003°W |
Al Mafjar (Arabic: المفجر) is an abandoned village in Qatar,[1] located in the municipality of Ash Shamal in the north. There are plans to redevelop ruins of the ancient village as a tourist attraction.[2] Umm Tais National Park and Ar Ru'ays are nearby.[3]
Al Mafjar roughly translates to 'bomber'. There is a high ground to the north of the village which has long prevented seawater from washing in, but when sea levels rose unexpectedly, the seawater "exploded" and spread around the village, thus giving it the name 'Al Mafjar'.[4]
Al Mafjar is located on the eastern side of Qatar's northern coast. The line connecting Al Mafjar and Abu Dhalouf serves as a demarcation between the coastal plain areas to the north and the interior plains to the south, the latter area being characterized by a gradual widening to the south of this line.[5]