Hormuz Island

Visit a unique red edible soil and other 70 colorful minerals in Hormuz Island. Wonderful views, untouched nature, and various attractions all in Hormuz Island are the magnificent features of this beautiful island. Winters in Hormuz Island are pleasantly mild. You can enjoy many entertainments, lifestyles, traditions, clothing, and local dishes of the south of Iran when in Hormuz Island.

About Hormuz Island

Hormuz Island is known for its red soil though it is not its only attraction. Stepping on the shore, the shore’s silver, golden, and white sand, you can see the red and orange mountains and the unforgettable sunset.

Hormuz Island is one of the famous islands of Iran and is located in a part of the Persian Gulf where the depth of the sea is low enough for the giant tankers to leave the gulf easily. As a result, this island has been geographically crucial to the sailors through time. If you look at this island from above or on a map, you will notice that it seems like a shell.

A beautiful road is constructed around the island that makes riding a bike and walking possible. The soil color around you keeps changing as you walk or ride.

History of Hormuz Island

Residents of old Hormuz, a city near Minab River, immigrated to Qeshm and then to an island in the Persian Gulf about 700 years ago when Mughals invaded the town. They urbanized the island and called it Hormuz (Hormoz) in remembrance of their initial land. Hormuz means harbor, which is a proper name for the functionality of the old city and the new.

The Portuguese general attacked Hormuz Island when Shah Esmaeil, the 20-year-old king, was busy with two other wars. As there was no powerful navy force, the islands in the Persian Gulf were invaded and taken. To make their dominance much firmer, the Portuguese built some strong castles and structures. However, the residents of the island rebelled against the new rulers until when Imam Gholi Khan managed to get the islands back.

After the expelling of the Portuguese from the islands and the total dominance of Iran over the northern and southern parts of the Persian Gulf, Shah Abbas commanded on destroying Hormuz Island. Persian Gulf shopping mall, which was built on this island, was closed, and many merchants moved to Oman beaches with all their investments. Consequently, Hormuz Island ceased to shine like a pearl in the Persian Gulf since then and, unfortunately, still has the same situation.

Strait of Hormuz

The Strait of Hormuz, also known as Tange Hormuz, is a strait between the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman that plays a significant role in shipping navigation. Strait of Hormuz may be the reason to hear this magnificent island’s name in Political news.

Attractions on Hormuz Island

The attractions and beauties in Hormuz Island are literally countless. Every part of the island is an attraction itself. However, keep reading the following 0paragraphs to get familiar with some of these beauties.

1. Portuguese Castle

The signs of the Portuguese’s presence and exploitation are represented in castles and defense structures. The Portuguese Castle is the largest structure left in the northern part of Hormuz Island, constructed by the Portuguese within 30 years. As it was a place for the commanders of the navy force, different parts are designated in the Castle for various purposes.

2. Moraghebeh Cave, Sokoot Valley, and Elahe Firoozeie Salt Dome

One natural wonder of salt is that it absorbs dirt and sound pollution in the environment. As a result, a calming silence welcomes you when you are in Sokoot (=Silence) Valley. Elahe Firoozeie is a salt dome that is polished by rain and is majestic to the eye. A seasonal river with colors of gold and orange flows on the valley bed. Exploring Moraghebeh Cave can be the most exciting part of your travel if you bring all the necessary equipment for caving since traversing this cave is not an easy task.

3. Soil Carpet

Within a few minutes from Sokoot Valley, you will encounter a wide shore where artists make a substantial colorful carpet. Local artists gather together in the second half of the year and make this carpet using the colorful soil of the island. The patterns for this carpet are inspired by Hormuzgan mythology and Hakim Omar Khayyam poetry. Rain washes all the patterns away within a short while and takes them to the sea. Many environmentalists take this as a trading activity during which the soil is moved from its prominent place and taken to the sea by rain for the sake of taking some pictures to share on media.

4. Rainbow Valley and Rainbow Mountains

The most well-known attraction in Hormuz Island is Rainbow Valley that has more than 70 different color spectrums. What we suggest you do is to enjoy the colors at the moment and live. Do not take this soil with you if you love the landscape. Let it be and keep it safe if you respect nature. Please also keep in mind not to buy this soil in glass bottles from the locals who do not know what they do is a danger to their habitat.

The entire Hormuz island is made of rainbow mountains where you can freely walk to the middle of them and feel the wonder of the beauty of colorful sands and minerals. Some picturesque valleys are placed in the vicinity of rainbow mountains which make the scenery more mesmerizing.

5. Hormuz Statues Valley

Visit many natural giant statues in this valley and enjoy walking through the valley while trying to guess what each statue shows, depending on how creative your imaginations are. At the end of the path you are walking, you will get to a precipice where you will be amazed at the scenery of the turquoise blue sea in front of you.

6. Nadalian Museum

Get familiar with nature and the environment in Nadalian Museum. Here, you will learn that human’s effect on nature is not destruction or pollution. It is, then, creating artistic works out of natural elements. This museum is an art gallery containing Dr.Ahmad Nadalian’s artworks about nature. To add on, Dr. Ahmad is a known name for environmental art worldwide. Rainbow Island is a movie created by Khosrow Sinayi Based on Dr. Nadalian’s biography, which exhibits the beauties of Hormuz Island, too.