Ibra - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

This article is about Ibra the place. For alternate meanings: see IBRA (disambiguation)
IBRA (disambiguation)
-Geography:* Ibra is a city in the Ash Sharquiyah Region of Oman.* IBRA is the Interim biogeographic regionalisation of Australia-Organizations:* IBRA Radio, Christian broadcaster...

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Ibra is the second largest city in the Ash Sharqiyah Region

Ash Sharqiyah Region (Oman)

Ash Sharqiyah is the eastern region of the Sultanate of Oman. The capital of Ash Sharqiyah is Sur....

of Oman

Oman

Oman , officially called the Sultanate of Oman , is an Arab state in southwest Asia on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the...

. It is located about 140 km (1.5 hours) from Muscat

Muscat, Oman

Muscat is the capital of Oman. It is also the seat of government and largest city in the Governorate of Muscat. As of 2008, the population of the Muscat metropolitan area was 1,090,797. The metropolitan area spans approximately and includes six provinces called wilayats...

and has a population estimated at 35,000 people.

Ibra is one of the oldest cities in Oman and was once a centre of trade, religion, education and art. The city acquired its importance as an important meeting point at the base of the Ash Sharqiya.

Etymology

Historian do not agree on the origins of the name of the city. Some suggest it is derived from the Arabic verb which means a purification of guilt.

History

Ibra predates the Prophet Muhammed's calling. The city contains many castles and old mousques.

Ibra has become a more modern city since 1970 under the reign of Sultan Qaboos

Qaboos of Oman

Qaboos bin Said Al Said is the Sultan of Oman and its Dependencies. He rose to power after overthrowing his father, Said bin Taimur, in a palace coup in 1970. He is the 14th-generation descendant of the founder of the Al Bu Sa'idi dynasty.-Early life:...

. Improvements include connections to Muscat via a two-lane highway, which has increased tourism. Communications have been improved to include broadband access, and there is now a substantial hospital. Ibra provides three choices of higher education: Ibra College of Technology, Ibra Nursing Institute, and beginning in the fall of 2010, A’Sharqiyah University. There are now two hotels in Ibra, and tourism is promoted in the area.

Geography and climate

Mountains surround Ibra on every side, and there is some outstanding mountain scenery close by. From November to March, the climate is cold, with temperatures dropping as low as 10 C in December. In the summer, the climate is hot and dry, with temperatures reaching 50 C in July. Precipitation

Precipitation (meteorology)

In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation (also known as one of the classes of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravity. The main forms of precipitation...

is very low and occurs mostly in the winter, when masses of low pressure air cause rain to fall.

Ibra College of Technology

Ibra College of Technology (ICT) is one of the seven Colleges of Technology under the Ministry of Manpower (MoMP). The college is fully funded by the government to cater to the higher educational needs of Omani nationals as full-time students. It has been established to provide technological education for post secondary students leading to Certificate, Diploma and Higher Diploma in the fields of Business, Information Technology, and Engineering. To date, ICT plays a leading role in the educational, cultural and social development of the region.

Attractions

The main tourist attractions in the city are its many beautiful watchtowers, the traditional Souq, and Falaj AlAfrit. The design of the souq compliments the fort in every way.
The Bait al Kabir was built in 1650 during the Ya'riba Dynasaty. It once stood as a centre of Government in Ibra.

Ibra Souq

The city, famous for its handicrafts and agricultural products, has an expansive souq showcasing an array of products. It is one of the most important in the country besides Muttrah. The souq bustles with vendors selling everything from meat, fish, fruits and vegetables to spices, dates, gold and silverware. Ibra is renowned for its silver jewelry which is considered to be the best in the country. Halwa (a traditional Omani dessert) is also sold in the souq. Halwa is a sticky dessert made from sugar and spices and flavoured with sesame

Sesame

Sesame is a flowering plant in the genus Sesamum. Numerous wild relatives occur in Africa and a smaller number in India. It is widely naturalized in tropical regions around the world and is cultivated for its edible seeds, which grow in pods....

seeds or almond

Almond

The almond , is a species of tree native to the Middle East and South Asia. Almond is also the name of the edible and widely cultivated seed of this tree...