The Geology of the Farsan Islands, Gizan and Kamaran Island, Red Sea

Abstract

The Farsan Islands form a group in the southern part of the Red Sea, about 17° N. Lat., 42° E. Long., and lie some 40 km. off the Asir Coast of south-west Arabia. The two main islands are Farsan Kebir (whose north-western arm is known as Seïr), and Segíd, which nestle together with a length of 60 km. and breadth of roughly 25 km. There are five smaller islands varying in length from 5 to 13 km., and a host of minor islets and rocks. The islands are in general of rather low elevation, not rising to more than 10 to 20 metres above sea-level. Local hills occur up to 75 metres, and are mostly due to faulting, occasionally to folding.