Qeshm Island

Qeshm is a big island in Iran, located in the Strait of Hormuz part of the Persian Gulf. It covers around 1,500 square kilometres, making it the largest island in the whole Persian Gulf. The island is separated from mainland Iran by a narrow waterway called the Clarence Strait. Today, Qeshm is part of Qeshm County in Daraghan Province, and it is known for its natural beauty and unique environment.

Etymology

Dr. Zana Salehrad, an Iranian expert in language, suggests that the name "Qeshm" comes from an old Iranian word, Kašm or Kaš, which means “fortified place” or “enclosed land.” This name reflects the island’s important location along ancient sea trade routes.

Geography

Qeshm Island is located just a few kilometers from the southern coast of Iran, in the Persian Gulf. It is opposite the port cities of Bandar Abbas and Bandar Khamir. The island is 135 km long and sits in the important Strait of Hormuz, about 60 kilometers from the Omani port of Khasab and roughly 180 kilometers from the United Arab Emirates's Mina Rashid.

The island is quite large, covering 1,491 square kilometers, which is almost twice the size of Bahrain. Its main town, Qeshm, is 22 kilometers from Bandar Abbas. The closest part of the island is only two kilometers from the mainland.

Namakdan Salt Cave

Namakdan Salt Cave is one of the longest known salt caves in the world, stretching 6.6 km. It used to be a place where people collected salt and sulphur. Today, it is an important geological site and part of the Qeshm Island UNESCO Global Geopark. The cave formed inside a large salt dome and is very important for studying how the Earth moves and changes.

Weather

The average temperature on Qeshm Island is around 27 °C (81 °F). The warmest time of year is from June to August, while the coldest months are from October to January. The island gets about 183.2 mm (7 3/16 inches) of rain each year on average.

History

The earliest signs of people living on Qeshm Island go back to very old times, during the Paleolithic Period. Stone tools found there show this. Records about Qeshm stretch back before Islam, with names like Qeshm, Kish, and Tunb showing that Elamites lived there for many years before Christ.

Because of its important location near the Persian Gulf, Qeshm has often been attacked by different groups, including Umayyads, Abbasids, Portuguese, English, and Dutch. During Sasanian rule, it was called Abarkawan and was part of Ardashir-Khwarrah.

Qeshm has been a busy place for trade and travel. During the Dailamite and Buyid times, many ships from China, India, and Eastern Africa stopped there.

In more recent times, during the Iran-Iraq War in 1988, an Iran Air plane was shot down near the island by a United States Navy ship, and everyone on board died. During protests in 2025–2026, people on Qeshm chanted against the government.

In March 2026, Iran said that a water plant on the island was bombed by the United States at the start of the 2026 Iran war, but the United States, Israel, and the UAE said they did not attack it. Reports said that tunnels were built on the island to hide weapons, and there were reports of airstrikes on the island. Iran also made ships pass through a narrow strait near Qeshm.

Economy

Fishing is an important job for people living on the island. They also grow dates and melons on the small amount of farmland available. Salt is mined along the southeastern coast. Qeshm is well-known for its many ecotourist spots, including the Hara marine forests. These forests are the first national geopark in Iran and attract many birds from around the world.

Visitors can see old Portuguese forts, historic mosques, and beautiful shrines. Other attractions include salt caves, places where Hawksbill turtles hatch, and many docks. The Nazz Islands, close to Qeshm, are home to oysters, corals, colorful fish, and sea birds. Dolphins can also be seen in the waters between Qeshm and Hengam Island.

In 1991, Qeshm Island was chosen to become a Trade and Industrial Free Area, allowing it to make its own rules to help grow its economy.

Demographics

Qeshm Island has many towns and villages, with around 117,774 people living there, according to a count in 2011. Most people live in the town of Qeshm. The people on the island work mainly in fishing, building special boats called dhow vessels, and providing services and trade. There are also about 30,000 people who work in offices, factories, or go to school.