description Jiddat al-Harasis Overview
Jiddat al-Harasis is a vast, flat gravel and limestone plateau located in central Oman. Covering an arid, hot desert environment, the region is characterized by its harsh climate and minimal vegetation. It became globally significant in 1982 as the site of the world's first successful reintroduction of the Arabian oryx to the wild, an effort managed by the Omani government to restore the species after it went extinct in the wild. The area is sparsely populated, primarily inhabited by the Harasis Bedouin tribe, and was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site for its conservation efforts.
help Jiddat al-Harasis FAQ
Where exactly is Jiddat al-Harasis?
Jiddat al-Harasis is a broad stony plateau in central-southern Oman, in the Al Wusta region near the Arabian Sea. It is mainly a gravel and limestone landscape rather than a field of tall sand dunes, with much of the plateau lying around 100 to 150 metres above sea level. [UNESCO site description](https://whc.unesco.org/archive/advisory_body_evaluation/654.pdf)
Why did Jiddat al-Harasis become internationally important in 1982?
On January 31, 1982, ten Arabian oryx were released into the open desert there after the species had become extinct in the wild. The project is widely described as the first successful reintroduction of a species to its original habitat after extinction in the wild. [Oryx reintroduction history](https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/oryx/article/arabian-oryx-returns-to-the-wild/4FBB56674CEFF58B123EF7A60AF3ABE8)
What is the climate like on Jiddat al-Harasis?
It is an extremely arid plateau with sparse shrubs and ephemeral grasses, although coastal fog and dew can add moisture. In the southeastern part, annual rainfall is around 50 millimetres, while July's mean temperature is about 34 degrees Celsius. [Geography and climate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiddat_al-Harasis)
Why do meteorite records use Jiddat al-Harasis as a locality name?
The plateau contains important meteorite strewn fields, including Jiddat al Harasis 073, an L6 ordinary chondrite fall. A study of that field documented 3,463 stones with a combined mass of 600.8 kilograms. [Meteorite study](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1945-5100.2009.tb00739.x)
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