Since ancient times, Kuwait has served as the gateway to the Middle East because of its geographical location. Kuwait has drawn upon the accumulated wisdom of countries around the world to power its own growth. In a few decades, after the discovery of oil, a nation of fishermen and traders has transformed into one of the richest and developed nations in the world — offering state-of-the-art amenities, secure infrastructural facilities and technical excellence — and is respected around the world.
The Kuwaitis’ pride in their history, heritage and national progress has given rise to an identity which is uniquely Kuwaiti. An identity which is worthy of emulation by all nations in the world.
The centuries have changed; the traditions have not. The country has modernised, but its people’s links with their heritage are as strong as ever. Kuwait’s wealth — Black Gold — may be buried underground, but its spirit is still vibrantly free and alive.
Coral reefs occur all around the southern offshore islands of Umm Al-Maradim, Qaruh and Kubbar. The upper portion of shallow water reefs are affected by the great variation in temperature from summer to winter. Their exposure during winter to low tides causes damage to the tips of the corals, which usually die. The western waters of the Gulf are turbid, but despite this, enough light reaches the coral reefs enabling the rock-building corals to expand in area and height. This turbidity does not affect other corals,namely the non reef – building soft corals. These are found in relatively deep turbid waters where light penetration is at a minimum. Since the soft corals feed on other marine creatures through their feeding polyps, they do not need to be associated with algae through symbiotic relationships. Soft corals can flourish under these conditions as long as there is a rocky sea-bed where the coral can anchor itself.
Kuwait’s three coral islands are:
Kubba
Umm Al-Maradim
Qaruh
are sand-covered and are surrounded by coastal fringe coral reefs. Each of the three islands has a large coral reef extending in a north-westerly direction until it drops into deep water. There are several coral reefs dotting the coast of Kuwait. They are located at Al-Funaitis, Al-Bida, Ras Al-Qulaiah and Dohat Az-Zor. Their corals are all rock-building reefs, and lie in shallow waters. They provide a haven for fish that frequent the coast.
The Arabian Gulf contains hundreds of steel structures related to the oil industry, including oil well platforms, loading terminals, and gas separation plants. These structures provide an excellent artificial anchorage for a vast number of plants and animals. Each structure represents a habitat for many shellfish, sponges, crabs, fish, worms and corals. All these creatures live together, being mutually beneficial. Over the years, the biological growth on some of the structures has exceeded four tons per structure, creating centers of attraction for migrant and wandering fish.
Most of the Arabian Gulf has a soft mud or sandy shale sea bed, which is the reason for the predominance of shrimping grounds. However, there are many locations where the sea bed is hard rock or sandy shale with some rock outcrops. These hard sea bottoms provide an environment that supports the growth of soft (non-rock-forming) corals, such as black corals, gorgonians, fan corals, and whip corals. They also provide an excellent anchorage for pearl oysters, as well as being rich fishing and jumbo shrimp grounds.
The Sabah Al-Ahmad Nature Reserve of Kuwait
The reserve is a sanctuary for flora and fauna which stretches for 320 square kilometers and it ranges in typography to include hills, level ground, muddy patches, and beaches.
It is surrounded by a fence running through 110 kilometers.
It is located at the north-east part of Kuwait, near Subiya. The wildlife to be protected within this territory includes rare animals and plants and some that are near extinction, and this is part of a national effort to preserve a strategic and indigenous pool of wildlife. There is also the aim of encouraging youth to experience volunteer work.
The reserve’s teams work on restoring indigenous flora and fauna and re-introducing and planting once common plants. The plants which were close to extinction due to factors like over-grazing, urban encroachment on natural habitats, and over-hunting certain animals, he noted.
The Sabah Al-Ahmad Nature Reserve of Kuwait (formerly known as The National Park of Kuwait) was established in the early 1990s to protect and restore the Kuwaiti environment, and had its duties doubled and made more complicated after the Iraqi occupation and the 1991 war to liberate Kuwait.
