Siyal Islands
Encyclopedia
The Siyal Islands are a group of islands off the coast of northeastern Africa, located in the Red Sea
. The islands are located in the Halayeb Triangle, which is claimed by both Sudan
and Egypt
, as part of an ongoing border dispute. Since the 1990s, the islands have been occupied by Egypt, and so the islands are de facto administered by Egypt. They remain, however, to be claimed by Sudan.
The islands are part of the Elba Protected Area of Egypt, and are home to the white-eyed gull
, with an estimated 70 individuals at the maximum, as well as several ospreys. The islands are surrounded by rocks and coral, and have a sandy surface with scant marine vegetation. The local fishermen, descendants of the Huteimi
peoples identified by J. R. Wellsted, harvest turtle and bird eggs from the surrounding area.
Red Sea
The Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden. In the north, there is the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez...
. The islands are located in the Halayeb Triangle, which is claimed by both Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
and Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, as part of an ongoing border dispute. Since the 1990s, the islands have been occupied by Egypt, and so the islands are de facto administered by Egypt. They remain, however, to be claimed by Sudan.
The islands are part of the Elba Protected Area of Egypt, and are home to the white-eyed gull
White-eyed Gull
The White-eyed Gull is a small gull which is endemic to the Red Sea. Its closest relative is the Sooty Gull. It is one of the world's rarest gulls, with a population of just 4,000 - 6,500 pairs. The species is classed as Near Threatened by the IUCN; human pressure and oil pollution are deemed the...
, with an estimated 70 individuals at the maximum, as well as several ospreys. The islands are surrounded by rocks and coral, and have a sandy surface with scant marine vegetation. The local fishermen, descendants of the Huteimi
Huteimi
Huteimi or Hutaym is a name given to several unrelated Red Sea coast-dwelling peoples, originally so by James Raymond Wellsted during his travels in the Arabian Peninsula. They are reported to be descendants of the Ichthyophagi, or "Fish-Eater" peoples as recounted by Diodorus Siculus, a Greek...
peoples identified by J. R. Wellsted, harvest turtle and bird eggs from the surrounding area.