Jebel Akhdar (Oman)
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- For the Jebel Akhdar region of Libya, see Jebel Akhdar (Libya)
The Jebel Akhdar, Jabal Akhdar or Djebel Akhdar (Arabic: الجبل الأخضر meaning The Green Mountain) is a mountain range in Oman, extending about 300 km northwest to southeast, between 50-100 km inland from the Gulf of Oman coast. The highest point, Jabal Shams (the mountain of the sun), is around 3,000 metres (around 9,800 feet) high . It is the highest point in Oman and the whole of eastern Arabia. It comprises the central section of the Jebel Hajar range, and is located around 150 km from Muscat.
The range is mostly desert, but at higher altitudes it receives around 300 mm of precipitation annually, moist enough to allow the growth of shrubs and trees and support agriculture. It is this that gives the mountains their 'green' name.
The Jebel Akhdar was the scene for intense conflict between Omani forces loyal to the Sultan of Oman (aided by British solders including the Special Air Service) and Saudi Arabian backed rebel forces of the inland Imamate of Oman between 1957 and 1959. This conflict is known as the Jebel Akhdar war.
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- ↑ Sources differ as to the height of the summit of Jabal Shams, with figures ranging between 2,980 and 3,075 metres. The Omani Ministry of Information gives the latter figure.
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