Abd al Kuri explained

Abd al Kuri
Coordinates:12.1858°N 52.2383°W
Archipelago:Socotra Archipelago
Area Km2:133
Length Km:36
Width Km:5
Highest Mount:Mount Ṣāliḥ
Country:Yemen
Country Admin Divisions Title:Governorate
Country Admin Divisions:Socotra Governorate[1]
Country Capital:Kilmia
Population:450[2]
Density Km2:3.38
Native Name:عبد الكوري
Native Name Lang:ar

Abd al Kuri (Arabic: عبد الكوري) is a rocky island in the Guardafui Channel.[3] As a part of the Socotra Archipelago of the Socotra Governorate of Yemen,[1] it lies about 65 miles (105 km) southwest of the island of Socotra.[4] It consists of granite and diorite covered by limestone.[5]

Geography

Much of Abd al Kuri is semi-desert with little vegetation.[4] Two ranges of hills separated near the centre occupy the entire length of the island.[6] The northern coast consists mostly of a sandy beach with a few rocky points, while the southern coast consists of steep cliffs.[6] [7] Its highest point, Mount Ṣāliḥ, reaches an altitude of over 700m (2,300feet). The total area of Abd al Kuri is 133 km2 (51 sq mi). Most of its inhabitants subsist on fishing.[4] Kilmia is the main village.[8]

Flora and fauna

Abd al Kuri has a number of endemic plant species[4] including Ruellia kuriensis and Convolvulus kossmatii.

It is home to an endemic bird, the Abd al-Kuri sparrow with estimated population of fewer than 1,000.[9] [10] [11] The island has been recognised as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International for the presence of the endemic sparrow as well as for colonies of red-billed tropicbirds and Persian shearwaters.[12]

Two species of lizards which are native to Abd al Kuri, Mesalina kuri and Pristurus abdelkuri, are named for the island.[13] [14] [15]

History

Thomas Fellowes was sent on HMS Briton in 1872 to Abd al Kuri, alongside Socotra, by British authorities to see if it would be a suitable place to settle liberated slaves. Fellowes decided against it, citing the poor living conditions on both islands.[16]

Map

See also

References

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. http://geonames.nga.mil/ggmagaz/ GeoNames
  2. http://www.socotraproject.org/index.php?page=content&id=7 Socotra Governance & Biodiversity Project - "Welcome to Socotra"
  3. Book: Steele. John. Ocean Currents: A Derivative of the Encyclopedia of Ocean Sciences. 160.
  4. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1564613/Abd-al-Kuri "ʿAbd al-Kūrī." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica, 2011.
  5. [#BA1974|Schürmann (1974)]
  6. [#NM1878|Nautical magazine (1878)]
  7. [#NGA2007|National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (2007)]
  8. http://wikimapia.org/6364535/Abd-al-Kuri-Island Abd al Kuri Island
  9. http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=32537 Abd al Kuri Sparrow Passer hemileucus
  10. http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/181440/0 2010. "Passer hemileucus " In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.1.
  11. [#A&C2009|Redman; Fanshawe; Stevenson (2009)]
  12. Web site: Abd al-Kuri (Socotra). . 2021. BirdLife Data Zone. BirdLife International. 21 January 2021.
  13. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . ("Abd el Kuri", p. 1; "Kur", p. 148).
  14. "Mesalina kuri ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  15. "Pristurus abdelkuri ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  16. Book: Symposium, Colston Research Society . Foreign Relations of African States: Proceedings of the Twentyfifth Symposium of the Colston Research Society Held in the University of Bristol, April 4th to 7th, 1973 . 1974 . Butterworths . 978-0-408-70623-0 . 104 . en.