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Kish Island

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Kish Island is a major resort island located in the Persian Gulf.

Kish map
Kish map

It sits off the southern coast of Iran within Hormozgan Province. The island is shaped in a nearly elliptical form. It serves as a vital center for both tourism and international commerce. Because it is a free trade zone, the island operates under different rules than mainland Iran. These special regulations make it a popular destination for shoppers and foreign investors.

Dariush(Darius) Grand Hotel - panoramio
Dariush(Darius) Grand Hotel - panoramio

The climate on Kish is described as a dry, semi-equatorial environment. It is located near the Tropic of Cancer. This position, combined with hot and shallow waters, creates high humidity. The humidity level stays around 60% for most of the year. The island is very sunny, receiving roughly 3,100 sunny hours annually.

Rainfall is most common in the winter, which accounts for 54% of the median annual precipitation. Summer rainfall is much lower, making up only 14% of the total. From October to April, the weather remains mild. However, summer temperatures from June to August are extremely hot, often exceeding 40 degrees Celsius.

Kish has a long and varied history. It has been known by many names, such as Kamtina, Arakia, Arakata, and Ghiss. The linguist Zana Vahdat notes it was once called Dowlatkhaneh. The earliest known mention of the island comes from 325 BC. During that time, Alexander the Great sent his admiral, Nearchus, to explore the Persian Gulf. Nearchus wrote about a place called Arakata. Later, the traveler Marco Polo recorded that pearls worn by a Chinese empress originated from Kish.

In the modern era, the Iranian government has worked to turn Kish into a luxury tourism hub. This effort began in 1972 with the creation of the Kish Development Organisation. In 1989, officials approved a special industrial trade zone. This led to the establishment of the Kish Free Trade Organisation in 1992. Since then, massive investment has transformed the island's infrastructure. The government aims to make Kish a rival to cities like Dubai and Doha.

Today, the island hosts about 12 million visitors every year.

The economy of the Kish Free Zone is very significant for Iran. In 2009, the total foreign trade in the zone reached approximately $9.2 billion per year. In fact, Kish handles about 15% of all imports to Iran. To attract business, the zone offers many incentives. These include 15 years of tax exemptions and no entry visa requirements. Foreign owners can also own 100% of their businesses there. The Kish Stock Exchange was also opened in 2010 to help with these financial activities.

There are many unique attractions for visitors to explore. The Dolphin Park is located at the southeast corner of the island. It is surrounded by more than 22,000 palm trees. This park features a dolphinarium, a bird garden, and even a volcanic mountain.

Kish Island Bird Garden, Persian Gulf, 2014
Kish Island Bird Garden, Persian Gulf, 2014

The bird garden holds over 57 species, including penguins and ostriches.

Anaconda 2
Anaconda 2

Another famous site is the Greek Ship on the southwest coast. This is the wreck of the Koula F, a cargo steamship built in Scotland. It ran aground in 1966, and people were unable to salvage it.

The Greek Ship
The Greek Ship

Transportation and education are well-developed on the island. Visitors arrive by sea through Kish port or by air. Kish International Airport is the main entry point for tourists. In 2015, about 2.7 million passengers used the airport.

Scuba Diving Kish Island Iran
Scuba Diving Kish Island Iran

The island also supports many educational institutions. These include the Kish International Campus of the University of Tehran. There are also specialized institutes for teaching foreign languages, computing, and science. These facilities help support the island's growing commercial and technical needs.

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🖼️ Images & Media (8)
File:Jhcfjuhfuvfjhyf.jpg
Jhcfjuhfuvfjhyf.jpg
File:The Greek Ship.jpg
The Greek Ship.jpg
File:Kish map.png
Kish map.png
File:Dariush(Darius) Grand Hotel - panoramio.jpg
Dariush(Darius) Grand Hotel - panoramio.jpg
File:Kish Island Bird Garden, Persian Gulf, 2014.jpg
Kish Island Bird Garden, Persian Gulf, 2014.jpg
File:McDonnell Douglas MD-82 'EP-LCL' Kish Air (21710460889).jpg
McDonnell Douglas MD-82 'EP-LCL' Kish Air...
File:Scuba Diving Kish Island Iran.JPG
Scuba Diving Kish Island Iran.JPG
File:Anaconda 2.jpg
Anaconda 2.jpg
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