Al-Hasa
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The great oasis of al-Hasa (also spelled Hassa and al-Ahsa, in Arabic الأحساء ) -- the largest in Saudi Arabia -- is located in the desert in the Eastern Province about 60 km inland from the Persian Gulf. Some of the world's largest oil fields can be found in the surrounding region. The oasis, with a population of over 600,000 people [#endnote_pop], contains one of the largest concentrations of Baharna Shi'ite Muslims in the predominantly Sunni Muslim country. Up until 1521 Al-Hasa belonged to the political entity known as Bahrain, along with Qatif and the present-day Bahrain islands.
The name Hasa is also given to the biggest city in the al-Hasa oasis, known also as Hofuf. One campus of a major Saudi university, King Faisal University, founded in 1975, is located in al-Hasa with the faculties of agriculture, veterinary medicine and animal resources, with the other faculties in Dammam. The Hofuf campus also has facilities where Saudi women can study medicine, dentistry and home economics. Other large population centers are Al-Mobarraz, Al-Oyoun, and Al-Oman. Within the sprawling oasis of two million palm trees are also found about 50 traditional Saudi villages, including Al-Taraf, which is famous for its four hills and its zoo, Bani-Maan, Al-Garah, Al-Hulailiyyah, Al-Kilabiyyah, Al-Bataliyyah, and Al-Shaharyan.
Natural fresh-water springs have surfaced in the region for millennia, encouraging human habitation and agricultural efforts (date palm cultivation especially) since prehistoric times. The Saudi Ministry of Agriculture established a factory to process its rich date harvest at the rate of five tons daily. Other components of its agricultural output include rice, corn, citrus, and other fruits. In addition, intensive livestock raising, involving thousands of sheep, goats, cattle and camels and more than 15 major poultry farms producing more than 100 million eggs a year, make Al-Hasa one of the major food producers for the kingdom.
Manufacturing -- both the traditional small-scale cottage industry kind (e.g. the traditional mislah mantle and pottery) and large-scale industries such as cement and plastics -- has also been strongly encouraged.
It is a region of some antiquity. Over the centuries, residents of the oasis have included the Kanoomites, Jun Hermites, Tasmis, Bani Abdul Qais, and the family of Aal Shihab (Who have now mostly moved to Bahrain). The second oldest mosque in Islam, Al-Juwana Mosque, is reputed to be found here, as well, and several historic remnants of Ottoman Turkish influence can be seen in buildings such as Qasr Ibrahim and the Samoud Palace. Many pictures of old Hassa and the Eastern Province were taken by the Danish explorer and convert to Islam Knud Holmboe (1902-1931) in his travels through the Middle East.
See also
- [Google Map of the Area]
- (not yet in use)
Notes
- ↑ Actual population unconfirmed, see [www.world-gazetteer.com] for details.
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