A Brief Description Long ruled by Arabs, the ancient land of Bahrain was an important trading center, dating all the way back to Roman times. It's a (small in size) group of 33 islands located just off the eastern coastline of Saudi Arabia in the Persian Gulf. The largest island is Bahrain Island. Modern causeways connect the four main islands, and all are connected to Saudi Arabia by the 16-mile-long King Fahd Causeway. Similar to numerous other Arab states, Bahrain had a long relationship with the United Kingdom, until declaring its independence in 1971. It joined the United Nations that very year. Most of the modern population is concentrated around Manama, the capital city, and much of that population (about 30%) are non-Bahraini immigrants. This land (especially Bahrain Island) is primarily barren desert, with a limestone surface. Petroleum processing and refining, as well as international banking are the major industries. Repressive heat and humidity are commonplace here, especially in summer, and most tourists arrive in the somewhat cooler months, November - February. Read more about Bahrain here Facts and Figures Name Bahrain (long form) Kingdom of Bahrain Population 688,300 Population & Density (all countries) here Capital City Manama (147,074) Currency Bahraini Dinar (BHD) Currency Converter here Languages Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu Flag here National Day December 16 Religions Muslim (Shi'a and Sunni) (82%), Christian, others Travel the World through Poster Art! Geographic Coordinates Latitude/Longitude (Capital City) 26º 13' N, 50º 34' E Relative Location Bahrain is in both the northern and eastern hemispheres. It's positioned in the Middle East, a recognized geographical region of southwestern Asia. This island country is located in the Persian Gulf, directly east of Saudi Arabia. Land Statistics Coastline 100 miles (161 km) Land Areas (land) 257 sq miles (665 sq km) (water) 0 sq miles (0 sq km) (TOTAL) 257 sq miles (665 sq km) Land Area (all countries) here Landforms Bahrain is comprised of 1 large and 32 smaller islands. Almost all of Bahrain's main island is a low-lying rocky, sandy plain. Coastal salt marshes are common, central and south. There are no significant rivers or lakes. Highest Point Jabal ad Dukham - 400 ft. (122 m) Lowest Point Persian Gulf - 0 ft. (0 m) Land Divisions 12 municipalities, including: Al Hadd, Al Manamah, Al Mintaqah al Gharbiyah, Al Mintaqah al Wusta, Al Mintaqah ash Shamaliyah, Al Muharraq, Ar Rifa' wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah, Jidd Hafs, Madinat Hamad, Madinat 'Isa, Juzur Hawar and Sitrah.

Maps Bahrain (large color) Map here Bahrain Outline Map here Bahrain CIA version here Bahrain Maps at UT here - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Asia Continent (printable) here Asia Outline Map here Asia (Southeast) Outline Map here Asia (Name the Country) Map Test here - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Indian Subcontinent Map here Middle East Landforms here Middle East Map here Middle East Outline Map here Middle East Rivers here Tsunami Map (December 2004) here - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - World Outline Maps (printable) here World Time Zone Map here Recommended Links Bahrain (Complete) info on the (GDP) economy, imports and exports, natural resources, government, population, military, transportation, and more here! Bahrain Daily News here Bahrain Embassy (U.S.) here Bahrain Photos at TrekEarth.com here Bahrain Tourism here Travel the World through Poster Art! Time and Weather Time Zone (UTC +3) Note that UTC is also known as GMT, or Greenwich Mean Time. Conversion details and additional info: here Climate Bahrain is hot and dry in the summer months, with very high humidity and no rain. Winters are mild and quite pleasant. July, August and September are the hottest months with high temps averaging near 97º f. Winter lows seldom fall below 55º f. Traveler Info Traveler Info Attractions The 'Tree of Life', growing in the country's arid desert, with no visible source of water, best describes Bahrain: "Full of surprises and contradictions." Visitors will enjoy the blending of antiquities and modern architecture, and especially so in the capital city of Manama, where the skyline reflects the old - with mosques and minarets, and the new - with modern, stylish skyscrapers. No visit to Bahrain is complete without a shopping trip to the Soukh; this market offers all types of wares, including luxurious fabrics and regional fashions, jewelry of all description, exotic spices, and the flavors and scents of locally-grown produce. Other must-see attractions include the Al-Khamis Mosque, with its beautiful twin minarets; Arad Fort; Bahrain (Portuguese) Fort; the Royal Tombs; Muharraq Island, and Oil Well No. 1, the first oil well in Bahrain and in the entire Gulf Region. For the sport enthusiasts Bahrain offers thoroughbred horse racing, world-class golf courses, and many scuba diving venues. And for racing fans, Formula 1 Racing (F1) added Bahrain to its annual circuit in 2004. With all of the offshore islands, beaches are everywhere, and most are reportedly clean, safe and well managed. Western travelers should maintain a high level of security awareness when visiting Bahrain. There have been occasional demonstrations in some of the villages, along with sporadic acts of politically related arson or vandalism. Country Dialing Code 973 Electricity Bahrain uses 230 volts AC (50 Hz) Electrical adapters, products and tips here Travel Warnings here Visa Information here

 

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This page created by: Patrick Kennedy
Creation date: March 2007
Last update: 18 November 2009
URL: http://www.patricksworldcurrency.com/countries/bahrain.html