Ras Filuk Explained

Official Name:Ras Filuk
Other Name:رأس فيلوك
Native Name:Bolimoog
Nickname:Cape Elephant
Pushpin Label Position:bottom
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Somalia
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Bari
Unit Pref:Metric
Timezone:EAT
Utc Offset:+3

Ras Filuk (Somali: Bolimoog, Arabic: رأس فيلوك), also known as Cape Elephant, is a headland in the northeastern Bari province of Somalia. It is situated in the autonomous Puntland region.

Etymology

Ras Filuk (or Ras Fil) means the Head of the Elephant in Arabic. Alternatively it is known as Jebel Fil, which translates into Mount Elephant (Jebel meaning mountain in Arabic).

Location

Ras Filuk is located at, next to the Guardafui Channel. It lies 39 nautical miles (45 miles) west of Cape Guardafui, 7 nautical miles (8 miles) west of Alula and 52 nautical miles (60 miles) east of Qandala.

History

Ras Filuk has, on account of its steep cliffwalls jutting into the Gulf of Aden, been a prominent geographical feature for vessels passing the tip of the Horn of Africa. It is quite likely the Elephas Mons of antiquity.[1] [2]

On April 8, 2013, the Puntland government announced the creation of a new region coextensive with Ras Filuk and Cape Guardafui, named Gardafuul. Carved out of the Bari region, it consists of three districts and has its capital at Alula.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Strabo, The geography of Strabo: Literary translated, with notes, Volumes 74-76 of Bohn's classical library, (G. Bell & sons: 1889), p.200.
  2. James Bruce, Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile, in the years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, & 1773, (William Sleater: 1791), p.81.