Sitra ( or , ''As-Sitra''), also known as Sitrah or Sitra Island ( ), is an
island
An island or isle is a piece of land, distinct from a continent, completely surrounded by water. There are continental islands, which were formed by being split from a continent by plate tectonics, and oceanic islands, which have never been ...
in Bahrain situated approximately south of the capital,
Manama
Manama ( ', Bahrani Arabic, Bahrani pronunciation: ) is the capital and List of cities in Bahrain, largest city of Bahrain, with an approximate population of 297,502 as of 2012. Long an important trading center in the Persian Gulf, Manama is ...
, which is on
Bahrain Island.
History
The island of Sitra has witnessed various conflicts. One notable conflict occurred in 1782 between the local populace and a group of
Al Khalifa individuals who arrived in Sitra from
Zubarah seeking supplies. This confrontation resulted in casualties on both sides.
Arab Spring
During the Arab Spring in Bahrain, Sitra played a prominent role as a site of significant protests. The island became a focal point for demonstrations, with numerous citizens gathering to express their grievances. The events during this period led to widespread unrest, injuries, and fatalities among the protesters, marking a critical chapter in the island's contemporary history.
Geography
Situated to the east of
Bahrain Island in the
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, sometimes called the Arabian Gulf, is a Mediterranean seas, mediterranean sea in West Asia. The body of water is an extension of the Arabian Sea and the larger Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.Un ...
, Sitra is positioned south of
Manama
Manama ( ', Bahrani Arabic, Bahrani pronunciation: ) is the capital and List of cities in Bahrain, largest city of Bahrain, with an approximate population of 297,502 as of 2012. Long an important trading center in the Persian Gulf, Manama is ...
and
Nabih Saleh. Its western coastline serves as the boundary for
Tubli Bay. Historically, the island was characterized by
date-palm groves and agricultural land with several
freshwater springs. However, rapid urbanization and development have significantly transformed the island's landscape.
Demography
Most of the inhabitants of the island live in nine historic villages:
*
Wadyan
*
Al Kharijiya
*
Marquban
*
Al Garrya
*
Mahazza
*
Sufala
Sufala (Arabic: سفالة، ''Sfala'') is a village on the Sitra island of Bahrain. The village is located on the eastern coast of the island.
References
Sitra
{{bahrain-geo-stub
Populated places in Bahrain ...
*
Abul Aish
*
Halat Um al-Baidh (the location of the yacht club and Al Bandar resort)
*
Al Hamriya
There is a massive land reclamation project called
East Sitra which increased the island size by 50% and became the site of a new city.
Economy
The island's economy used to be based on agriculture and fishing.
The northern section of the island has been turned into an industrial area.
Bapco oil storage reservoirs are located in the south. Sitra is also the terminus of the 42-km Dhahran-Sitra
natural gas
Natural gas (also fossil gas, methane gas, and gas) is a naturally occurring compound of gaseous hydrocarbons, primarily methane (95%), small amounts of higher alkanes, and traces of carbon dioxide and nitrogen, hydrogen sulfide and helium ...
pipeline
A pipeline is a system of Pipe (fluid conveyance), pipes for long-distance transportation of a liquid or gas, typically to a market area for consumption. The latest data from 2014 gives a total of slightly less than of pipeline in 120 countries ...
, which connects it to
Dahran in
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in West Asia. Located in the centre of the Middle East, it covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula and has a land area of about , making it the List of Asian countries ...
.
Several car and furniture showrooms also make up the new development on the island.
The
Sitra Club is a cultural and sports club for the island.
Today Sitra handles Bahrain's entire petroleum production. It is the location of
Port of Sitra. It is also the export center for the oil fields in northeastern
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in West Asia. Located in the centre of the Middle East, it covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula and has a land area of about , making it the List of Asian countries ...
.
Education
Sitra is the site of many school campuses such as
Al Noor International School and
Indian School, Bahrain. The
Applied Science University is also located here.
Transportation
The
Sitra Causeway connects the north of the island to
Nabih Saleh and to
Umm al Hussam (
Manama
Manama ( ', Bahrani Arabic, Bahrani pronunciation: ) is the capital and List of cities in Bahrain, largest city of Bahrain, with an approximate population of 297,502 as of 2012. Long an important trading center in the Persian Gulf, Manama is ...
) on
Bahrain Island.
Two small bridges on the south west of Sitra also join Bahrain Island, near the villages of
Ma'ameer and
Eker.
Administration
The southern part of the island belongs to
Southern Governorate and the northern part to
Capital Governorate.
Between 1990 and 2013 it was part of
Central Governorate of
Bahrain
Bahrain, officially the Kingdom of Bahrain, is an island country in West Asia. Situated on the Persian Gulf, it comprises a small archipelago of 50 natural islands and an additional 33 artificial islands, centered on Bahrain Island, which mak ...
, but that has since been dissolved. Between 1920 and 1990 it was part of Sitra Municipality.
Sitra Municipality
This was a
municipality in Bahrain before they were re-organized as Governorates. The Sitra Municipality consisted of the island of Sitra and three villages close to it on the main island of Bahrain:
Ma'ameer,
Eker and
Nuwaidrat.
Image gallery
File:Un-bahrain.png, Map 1
File:Bahrain, administrative divisions 2014 - de - colored.svg, Map Districts
File:Capital Governorate in Bahrain 2014.svg, District Map
File:Southern Governorate in Bahrain 2014.svg, District Map
File:BapcoTanks-SitraBahrain.jpg, Bapco Bahrain oil reservoirs in Sitra
File:Sitra Wharf, 1940.jpg, Berth number 4 in Sitra Wharf
A wharf ( or wharfs), quay ( , also ), staith, or staithe is a structure on the shore of a harbour or on the bank of a river or canal where ships may dock to load and unload cargo or passengers. Such a structure includes one or more Berth (mo ...
in 1940
File:Bahrain-Sitrah.png, Map of Bahrain showing Sitrah municipality
File:Sitra_cemetery_-_Flickr_-_Al_Jazeera_English.jpg, Cemetery
File:Women taking part in a pro-democracy sit in in Sitra.jpg, Women taking part in a pro-democracy sit-in in Sitra
File:Bahrain map.png, Sitra (Sitrah), east of Manama, in Bahrain
See also
*
List of islands of Bahrain
This is a list of islands of the Bahrain, Kingdom of Bahrain, which includes most of the archipelago known as the . The Kingdom consists of 33 natural islands and a number of man-made ones.
Islands
In addition to the Bahrain Islands, the Kingdom ...
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sitra
Populated places in Bahrain
Islands of Bahrain
Artificial islands of Bahrain
Former municipalities (regions) of Bahrain
Islands of the Persian Gulf