Editing Geography of Bahrain

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{{More citations needed|date=October 2020}}
[[File:BahrainOMCmap.png|thumb|Map of Bahrain]]
[[File:Bahrain Topography.png|thumb|Topography]]
[[File:Persian Gulf map.png|thumb|Persian Gulf]]
[[File:Bahrain2021OSM.png|thumb|Enlargeable, detailed map of Bahrain, with most features marked in both English and Arabic]]

The [[Kingdom of Bahrain]]<ref>For the history of the name, see [[Etymology of Bahrain]].</ref> consists of [[Bahrain Island]] and 33 of the 37 Bahrain Islands, lying in the [[Persian Gulf]]'s [[Gulf of Bahrain]] off the north shore of [[West Asia]]'s [[Arabian Peninsula]]. Bahrain's capital city is [[Manama]]. The islands are about {{convert|24|km|sp=us|0}} off the east coast of [[Saudi Arabia]] and {{convert|28|km|sp=us|0}} from [[Qatar]].<ref name=":11">{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.loc.gov/item/93046476/|title=Persian Gulf states: country studies|date=1994|publisher=[[Federal Research Division]], [[Library of Congress]]|isbn=0-8444-0793-3|editor-last=Metz |editor-first=Helen Chapin |editor-link=Helen Chapin Metz |edition=3rd|location=Washington, D.C.|pages=114–118|oclc=29548413|postscript=. {{PD-notice}}}}</ref> The total area of the country is about {{convert|694|km2|sp=us|0|abbr=}}, about four times the size of the [[District of Columbia]].<ref name=":11" />

Bahrain Island accounts for about 78% of the kingdom's land area, comprising {{convert|604|km2|sp=us|0}}. It is {{convert|48|km|sp=us|0}} long from north to south and at its widest point stretches {{convert|16|km|sp=us|0}} from east to west. The island is surrounded by several of the [[Middle East]]'s large [[petroleum]] fields and commands a strategic position amid the Persian Gulf's shipping lanes.

==Geographical setting and islands==
Following the return of [[Hawar Islands|Janan]] to [[Qatar]] in March 2001, the state of Bahrain consists of 33 natural islands in the {{nowrap|Bahrain Islands}} archipelago.

Around most of Bahrain is a relatively shallow inlet of the Persian Gulf known as the [[Gulf of Bahrain]].<ref name=":11" /> The seabed adjacent to Bahrain is rocky and, mainly off the northern part of the island, covered by extensive coral reefs.<ref name=":11" /> Most of the island is a low-lying and barren desert.<ref name=":11" /> Outcroppings of limestone form low rolling hills, stubby cliffs, and shallow [[ravine]]s.<ref name=":11" /> The limestone is covered by various densities of saline sand, capable of supporting only the hardiest desert vegetation – chiefly thorn trees and scrub.<ref name=":11" /> There is a fertile strip five kilometres wide along the northern coast on which [[Date Palm|date]], [[almond]], [[ficus|fig]], and [[pomegranate]] trees grow.<ref name=":11" /> The interior contains an [[escarpment]] that rises to 134 meters, the highest point on the island, to form [[Jabal al Dukhan]] (Mountain of Smoke), named for the mists that often wreathe the summit.<ref name=":11" /> Most of the country's [[oil well]]s are situated in the vicinity of Jabal al Dukhan.<ref name=":11" />

One author writes about the geology of the nation: "Bahrein lies on a portion of the ancient [[Tethys Ocean]] geosynclinal belt represented today by the Persian Gulf. The formation of the principal island is the result of pressure from the mountain masses of Persia against the crystalline platform of central Asia, the thrust being absorbed by gentle folding in the geosynclines. The structure of Bahrein is that of a large, single, closed dome covering the entire faulting".

Rocks exposed at the surface consist of:

* Recent sands and [[coquina]]s forming flat, raised beaches surrounding the island from which the surface rises gradually to an elevation 150 to 200 feet above sea level. At this point it breaks away into inward-facing cliffs eighty to one hundred feet high completely surrounding an oval central depression about twelve miles long and four wide. 
* [[Pleistocene]] sands, cross-bedded and probably wind-deposited, lying in the canyon. 
* [[Miocene]] silicious clay covering a very limited area. 
* [[Eocene]] limestone covering most of the island, the central region of which, known as “Jabal Dukhān “Mountain of Smoke”, rises to a point 439 feet above sea level. The limestone is very porous and is the source of most of the water in the northern half of the island.<ref>Faroughy, Abbas. 1951. The Bahrein Islands (750-1951): A Contribution to the Study of Power Politics in the Persian Gulf. New York: Verry, Fisher & Co. Pages 14-15.</ref>

In addition to [[Bahrain Island]], other islands of significance include [[Nabih Saleh]], which is northwest of [[Sitrah]]; [[Jidda Island]] and [[Umm as Sabaan]], to the north of [[Umm a Nasan]]; and a [[Hawar Islands|group of islands]], the largest of which is [[Hawar (island)|Hawar]], near the coast of Qatar.<ref name=":11" /> Nabih Saleh contains several freshwater springs that are used to irrigate the island's the extensive date palm groves.<ref name=":11" /> The rocky islet of [[Jidda Island|Jiddah]] formerly housed the state prison<ref name=":11" /> but has now been converted to a holiday resort.{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}} Hawar and the fifteen small islands near it are the subject of a territorial dispute between [[Bahrain]] and [[Qatar]].<ref name=":11" /> Hawar is nineteen kilometres long and about one and one-half kilometres wide.<ref name=":11" /> The other islands (such as the [[Al Garum Islands]]) are uninhabited and are nesting sites for a variety of [[Bird migration|migratory birds]].<ref name=":11" />

In Bahrain [[forest cover]] is around 1% of the total land area, equivalent to 700 hectares (ha) of forest in 2020, up from 220 hectares (ha) in 1990. For the year 2015, 100% of the forest area was reported to be under [[State ownership|public ownership]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/a6e225da-4a31-4e06-818d-ca3aeadfd635/content |title=Terms and Definitions FRA 2025 Forest Resources Assessment, Working Paper 194 |publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |year=2023}}</ref>

==Climate==
{{See also|Bahrain#Climate|l1=Climate}}
Bahrain features an [[arid climate]].<ref name=":11" /> Bahrain has two seasons: an extremely hot summer and a relatively mild winter.<ref name=":11" /> During the summer months, from April to October, afternoon temperatures average {{convert|40|°C||abbr=}} and can reach {{convert|46|°C|1}} during May, June and July.<ref name=":11" /> The combination of intense heat and high humidity makes this season uncomfortable.<ref name=":11" /> In addition, a hot, dry southwest wind, known locally as the qaws, periodically blows sand clouds across the barren southern end of Bahrain toward Manama in the summer.<ref name=":11" /> Temperatures moderate in the winter months, from November to March, when the range is between {{convert|10|and|20|C|F}}.<ref name=":11" /> However, humidity often rises above 90% in the winter.<ref name=":11" /> From December to March, prevailing winds from the northwest, known as the [[Shamal (wind)|shamal]], bring damp air over the islands.<ref name=":11" /> Regardless of the season, daily temperatures are fairly uniform throughout the archipelago.<ref name=":11" /> Note that the coldest temperature ever recorded in Bahrain was on January 20, 1964, when it dropped to -5&nbsp;°C (23&nbsp;°F) in Awali and 2.7&nbsp;°C (36&nbsp;°F) at Bahrain International Airport.<ref name=":11" />
That particular freeze was accompanied by a white-out, with icicles forming on trees and fences at Awali.<ref name=":11" />

Bahrain receives little precipitation.<ref name=":11" /> The average annual rainfall is {{convert|72|mm|in|sp=us|abbr=}}, usually confined to the winter months.<ref name=":11" /> No permanent rivers or streams exist on any of the islands.<ref name=":11" /> The winter rains tend to fall in brief, torrential downpours, flooding the shallow [[wadi]]s that are dry the rest of the year and impeding transportation.<ref name=":11" /> Little of the [[rain]]water is saved for [[irrigation]] or drinking.<ref name=":11" /> However, there are numerous natural [[Spring (hydrosphere)|springs]] in the northern part of Bahrain and on adjacent islands.<ref name=":11" /> Underground [[freshwater]] deposits also extend beneath the Persian Gulf to the Saudi Arabian coast.<ref name=":11" /> Since ancient times, these springs have attracted settlers to the archipelago.<ref name=":11" /> Despite increasing salinization, the springs remain an important source of [[drinking water]] for Bahrain.<ref name=":11" /> Since the early 1980s, however, [[desalination]] plants, which render [[seawater]] suitable for domestic and industrial use, have provided about 60% of daily water consumption needs.<ref name=":11" />

{{Weather Box
|location  = Bahrain International Airport (1991–2020, extremes 1946–2012)
|metric first = Y
|single line  = Y
|Jan record high C = 31.7
|Feb record high C = 34.7
|Mar record high C = 40.0
|Apr record high C = 41.7
|May record high C = 46.7
|Jun record high C = 46.6
|Jul record high C = 47.4
|Aug record high C = 45.7
|Sep record high C = 45.5
|Oct record high C = 42.8
|Nov record high C = 37.2
|Dec record high C = 30.6
|year record high C = 47.4
|Jan high C = 20.7
|Feb high C = 22.0
|Mar high C = 25.5
|Apr high C = 30.6
|May high C = 36.1
|Jun high C = 38.6
|Jul high C = 39.7
|Aug high C = 39.6
|Sep high C = 37.7
|Oct high C = 34.0
|Nov high C = 28.0
|Dec high C = 22.9
|year high C = 31.3
|Jan mean C = 17.5
|Feb mean C = 18.4
|Mar mean C = 21.3
|Apr mean C = 26.0
|May mean C = 31.1
|Jun mean C = 34.0
|Jul mean C = 35.1
|Aug mean C = 35.1
|Sep mean C = 33.2
|Oct mean C = 29.9
|Nov mean C = 24.6
|Dec mean C = 19.7
|year mean C = 27.2
|Jan low C = 14.5
|Feb low C = 15.4
|Mar low C = 18.1
|Apr low C = 22.4
|May low C = 27.2
|Jun low C = 30.0
|Jul low C = 31.4
|Aug low C = 31.5
|Sep low C = 29.5
|Oct low C = 26.4
|Nov low C = 21.6
|Dec low C = 16.8
|year low C = 23.7
|Jan record low C = -5
|Feb record low C = 7.2
|Mar record low C = 7.8
|Apr record low C = 14.2
|May record low C = 18.7
|Jun record low C = 22.7
|Jul record low C = 25.2
|Aug record low C = 26.0
|Sep record low C = 23.5
|Oct record low C = 18.8
|Nov record low C = 12.1
|Dec record low C = 6.4
|year record low C = -5
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 18.1
|Feb precipitation mm = 13.0
|Mar precipitation mm = 14.7
|Apr precipitation mm = 5.8
|May precipitation mm = 0.5
|Jun precipitation mm = 0.0
|Jul precipitation mm = 0.0
|Aug precipitation mm = 0.0
|Sep precipitation mm = 0.0
|Oct precipitation mm = 0.9
|Nov precipitation mm = 16.8
|Dec precipitation mm = 15.2
|year precipitation mm = 85.1
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 2.5
|Feb precipitation days = 1.9
|Mar precipitation days = 2.5
|Apr precipitation days = 1.3
|May precipitation days = 0.3
|Jun precipitation days = 0.0
|Jul precipitation days = 0.0
|Aug precipitation days = 0.0
|Sep precipitation days = 0.0
|Oct precipitation days = 0.2
|Nov precipitation days = 1.6
|Dec precipitation days = 2.3
|year precipitation days = 12.6
|Jan humidity = 69.1
|Feb humidity = 67.2
|Mar humidity = 61.5
|Apr humidity = 54.4
|May humidity = 47.6
|Jun humidity = 46.2
|Jul humidity = 50.7
|Aug humidity = 58.0
|Sep humidity = 59.2
|Oct humidity = 62.3
|Nov humidity = 63.6
|Dec humidity = 68.7
|year humidity = 59.0
| Jan dew point C = 11.5
| Feb dew point C = 11.8
| Mar dew point C = 13.1
| Apr dew point C = 15.8
| May dew point C = 17.9
| Jun dew point C = 19.9
| Jul dew point C = 22.5
| Aug dew point C = 25.0
| Sep dew point C = 23.7
| Oct dew point C = 21.5
| Nov dew point C = 17.0
| Dec dew point C = 13.7
| year dew point C = 17.7
|Jan sun = 231.5
|Feb sun = 220.6
|Mar sun = 245.1
|Apr sun = 256.3
|May sun = 316.4
|Jun sun = 343.7
|Jul sun = 336.6
|Aug sun = 334.1
|Sep sun = 315.9
|Oct sun = 306.0
|Nov sun = 249.0
|Dec sun = 235.4
|year sun = 3390.4
|source 1 = NOAA<ref name= NOAA>{{cite web
| url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-2-WMO-Normals-9120/Bahrain/XLS/BahrainInternationalAirport_41150.xlsx
| title = Bahrain International Airport Climate Normals 1991-2020
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = 4 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ogimet.com/cgi-bin/gsynres?ind=41150&ano=2021&mes=3&day=19&hora=0&min=0&ndays=30 |title=41150: Bahrain International Airport (Bahrain) |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= 19 March 2021|website=ogimet.com |publisher=[[OGIMET]] |access-date= 19 March 2021|quote=}}</ref>
|date=December 2010
}}

=== Climate change ===
[[File:Show Your Stripes change in temperature graphic for All of Bahrain with bars with labels.png|thumb|Temperature change in Bahrain, each bar represents the average temperature over that year.]]
Due to [[climate change]] Bahrain is experiencing more frequent extreme heat, drought, flooding and [[Dust storm|dust storms]] and the threat of sea level rise. These conditions threaten Bahrain's food and water security, and are expected to become more severe in the future.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mahmoud |first=Mohammed |date=29 May 2024 |title=Building a More Resilient Bahrain: An Integrated Approach to Climate Change, Socioeconomic, and Governance Challenges |url=https://www.mei.edu/publications/building-more-resilient-bahrain-integrated-approach-climate-change-socioeconomic-and#:~:text=The%20Kingdom%20of%20Bahrain%20faces,and%20the%20nation's%20food%20security. |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=Middle East Institute |language=en}}</ref> Despite being a relatively low-emitting country overall, Bahrain was the second highest [[greenhouse gas]] emitter per capita in 2023, at approximately 42 tonnes per person.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jones |first=Matthew W. |last2=Peters |first2=Glen P. |last3=Gasser |first3=Thomas |last4=Andrew |first4=Robbie M. |last5=Schwingshackl |first5=Clemens |last6=Gütschow |first6=Johannes |last7=Houghton |first7=Richard A. |last8=Friedlingstein |first8=Pierre |last9=Pongratz |first9=Julia |last10=Le Quéré |first10=Corinne |date=2023-03-29 |title=National contributions to climate change due to historical emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide since 1850 |url=https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-023-02041-1 |journal=Scientific Data |volume=10 |issue=1 |doi=10.1038/s41597-023-02041-1 |issn=2052-4463 |hdl-access=free |hdl=11250/3119366}}</ref> Most of Bahrain's emissions arise from burning [[Fossil fuel|fossil fuels]] in the energy sector.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Climate Watch |title=Bahrain |url=https://www.climatewatchdata.org/countries/BHR?end_year=2021&start_year=1990 |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=www.climatewatchdata.org}}</ref> The nation has committed to [[Net-zero emissions|net zero]] by 2060<ref>{{Cite web |last=Climate Watch |title=Bahrain |url=https://www.climatewatchdata.org/countries/BHR?end_year=2021&start_year=1990 |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=www.climatewatchdata.org}}</ref> and also aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2035.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Government of Bahrain |date=30 July 2024 |title=Climate Change and Environment Protection |url=https://bahrain.bh/wps/portal/en/BNP/HomeNationalPortal/ContentDetailsPage/!ut/p/z1/rVRNc5swEP0rvuQIWgkF4yNOauJMUzfYOLEuGQEiqAGh2IpJ_33RtDnExKaZVhd97e5bvbcrxNA9Yorv5SM3slG86vYb5j_g-TlcBRcA3y8pgdv1JPanNxhuIg_dvTeYrCY--ISElCwjDxaA2Kf8-wbWH46MEHr4STIDP4hmlPpBPD4fn8IHoH_8D8NOYzL1AKLlQf795_XwfQA_SjDG1wlAQA78e-mtEUMsU0abEm1SpR-EOgOeNi9mZEoxepLqMW_qMxBqL7eNqoUyI67ykeLmZSuOndugOpN5F5IUtCgK6lAK2KEFJc4EB9yhHva8McmpIKm13pkBKi7oB1K8Y-qACrzqCLhdz8N4MbvEQPHflcIJrf-llKzW7PTzrocAumaQP56fWdgp1igjXg26_3-S3VkZBggc6gY2VG7sJAkLMmAQANp0LI-PsjTvZNhL0aJENdu6-0CWnyzFqzeEIymEX8nvmDyzXxTatHrn6mZrKmF2biXVk720M9faomZN7cq0dlvt8ryWyi1F1S21dltRdZfC3Qm-zUq0FArpOrGjDjz1U0rpsNSPv8RBuypKvf_mhL8AN4Xzyw!!/ |access-date=14 January 2025 |website=Government of Bahrain}}</ref>

==Area and boundaries==
'''Area:'''<br> total:780&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>
<br>''country comparison to the world:'' 188
*land:780&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>
*water: 0&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>

'''Area comparative'''
*[[United States|USA]] - 3.5 times the size of [[Washington D.C.]]

'''Land boundaries:''' 0&nbsp;km

'''Coastline:''' 161&nbsp;km

'''Maritime claims:'''
*territorial sea: {{convert|12|nmi|km mi|1|abbr=on|lk=in}}
*contiguous zone: {{convert|24|nmi|km mi|1|abbr=on}}
*continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined

'''Elevation extremes:'''
*lowest point: [[Persian Gulf]] 0 m
*highest point: [[Jabal ad Dukhan]] 122 m

==Resources and land use==
[[File:Water_Stress,_Top_Countries_(2020).svg|thumb|Bahrain is the eleventh most water stressed country in the world.]]
'''Natural resources:''' 
* [[Petroleum|oil]], associated and non associated [[natural gas]], [[fish]], [[pearl]]s

'''Land use:'''
*arable land: 2.11%
*permanent crops: 3.95%
*other: 93.95% (2012)

'''Irrigated land:'''
40.15&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> (2003)

'''Total renewable water resources:'''
0.12 m³ (2011)

'''Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):'''
*total: 0.36&nbsp;km<sup>3</sup>/yr (50%/6%/45%)
*per capita: 386 m³/yr (2003)

==Environmental concerns==
'''Natural hazards:''' 
<br> periodic droughts; dust storms

'''Environment - current issues:'''<br>
[[desertification]] resulting from the degradation of limited arable land, periods of drought, and dust storms; coastal degradation (damage to coastlines, coral reefs, and sea vegetation) resulting from oil spills and other discharges from large tankers, oil refineries, and distribution stations; lack of freshwater resources (groundwater and seawater are the only sources for all water needs)

'''Environment - international agreements:'''<br>
party to: [[Biodiversity]],  Climate Change-[[Kyoto Protocol]], [[Desertification]], [[Hazardous Wastes]], [[Law of the Sea]], [[Ozone Layer]] Protection, [[Wetlands]]

==See also==
*{{wikiatlas|Bahrain}}

==Notes==
{{reflist|30em}}

==References==
*{{CIA World Factbook |article=Bahrain}}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite book|author=Cooper, Robert|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/1105750616|title=Bahrain|isbn=978-1-5026-5075-7|oclc=1105750616}}
* {{Cite book|last=الله.|first=محمد، سعيد عبد|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/39133593|title=طيور البحرين والخليج العربي|date=1993|publisher=Markaz al-Baḥrayn lil-Dirāsāt wa-al-Buḥūth|oclc=39133593}}

{{Bahrain topics}}
{{Geography of Asia}}
{{Asia topic|Climate of}}

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[[Category:Geography of Bahrain| ]]