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Yemen, Geographical Divisions
In view of
its topographical structure, the Republic of
Yemen is divided into five regions:
Mountain, Highland, Coastal,the Empty Quarter,
and the Yemeni Islands.
1. Mountain region with
heights ranging between 1000-3760m. high
The western mountain range represent a large
area of
the country. It is the range called Al-Surat
mountains stretching longitudinally from the
north to the south and transversally from the
west to the east which resembles the letter "L".
These heights go down in different directions.
They descend sharply westwards to the Red Sea,
southwards to the Gulf of Aden, and eastwards
and northwards to the interior desert areas. In
the mountain heights, stretching from the north
to the south, there are a number of basins
(beds), of considerable agricultural importance
with large populations, such as Sana'a basin,
Yarim basin, Jahran flatland, Sa'da flatland,
Alboun flatland, Aqwat Hadhramout bed and
Si'aith bed in Mahara. The most prominent
mountains in these heights are the mountains of
Attaq, Bayhan, Mukairas, Al-Dhalie', Yafie',
Sabra, Hudhour Alsheikh, Miswar and Prophet
Shu'aib which at 3766m above sea level is the
highest mountain in Arabia.
2. The Highland
region
This area lies to the east and north of the
mountainous heights going in parallel to the
heights towards the Empty Quarter. The maximum
height of this area is 1000m gradually
descending. Such area is represented by the
highlands in Sana'a, Al Jouf, Shabwa, Hadhramout
and Mahara. The out- skirts of this area in the
north overlap with the Empty Quarter.
3. The Coastal Area
This area includes the coastal plains
overlooking the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and
Arabian Sea. They are connected to each other
forming a coastal strip that extends from the
Oman border south- westward to Bab Al-Mandab.
This strip then changes its direction northward
to the borders of Saudi Arabia, thus making it
more than 2400km. long. The width of the plains
range from 30 to 60 km.
4. The Empty Quarter
This is a Yemeni desert area located to the
north of Hadhramout highlands, and to the south
of the western heights. This area consists of
desert plains covered with gravel, sand and
sandy dunes in Volving in some parts desert
plants and vast oases, that were formed due to
the collection of the seasonal water. It is
inhabited by the wandering nomads because of its
pastoral land.
5. The Yemeni Islands
This part of the country consists of islands
scattered along the coasts of Yemen. There are
120 islands, most of which are located in the
Red Sea. The biggest islands are Kamaran,
Greater Hunaish, Minor Hunaish, the rest of
Archipelago, Zaqar, Zubair, AL-Tayr and the
strategic island of Meon at the Bab AI-Mandeb.
In addition there are islands located in the
Gulf of Aden and thc Arabian Sea, the largest of
which is Soqatra.
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