Jabal Shams | |
Elevation: | 3018m (9,902feet) |
Prominence Ref: | [1] Ranked 110th |
Map: | Oman#Middle East#Asia |
Map Size: | 220 |
Label Position: | bottom |
Listing: | Country high point Ultra |
Range: | Al-Hajar Mountains |
Coordinates: | 23.2369°N 57.2639°W |
Easiest Route: | (to South Summit) W4 route published by Ministry or Tourism, Oman (Grade 2 / 3)[2] |
Translation: | Mountain of Sun |
Language: | ar |
Jabal Shams or Jebel Shams (Arabic: جَبَل شَمْس|lit=Mountain of Sun) is a mountain located in northeastern Oman north of the town of Al-Hamra.
It is the highest mountain in Oman, and is part of the Jebel Akhdar or Jabal Akhdar Mountains,[3] which in turn belongs to the Hajar range.[4] The mountain is a popular sightseeing area located 240km (150miles) from Muscat. It is known as Jabal Shams because it is the first place to receive sunrise in Oman due to its high peak.
In the summer, the temperature is around 20°C and in the winter it drops to less than 0°C. Jabal Shams also hosts Al Nakhur Canyon which is labeled as the Grand Canyon of Arabia.
See also: Geography of Oman, Geology of Oman and Tourism in Oman.
The highest point of the mountain is the North Summit, which is occupied by a military base and is a restricted area. The Ministry of Tourism, Sultanate of Oman, states the North Summit to be 3009m (9,872feet) high.[4]
The mountain also has a second summit, the South Summit, which is publicly accessible for trekking via the W4 Trail,[5] marked by the Oman Ministry of Tourism.[2] The elevation of the second south summit is 2997m (9,833feet).[5]