Hengam island
Hengam is a small island located two kilometers southeast of Qeshm Island over the blue waters of the Persian Gulf. The name Hengam, which is also called Henjam and Henyam, is the same as Hangam in Persian. This island fell into the hands of foreigners and was taken back several times in the history of Iran.
Hengam is nine kilometers long and six kilometers wide, spreading in an area of more than 33 square kilometers. There are three villages in Hengam Island: New Hengam or Mashi, Old Hengam and Ghayl. With 106 meters high, Knox Mountain is the highest part of the island. There is a red soil on the mountains and other areas of the island which is called "Gelk" by the locals. Gelk is a kind of soil which has industrial and edible usages. There is a 50-kilometer strip around the island which is coral. There is also a silver beach on this strip which reflects the sun's light, due to its various minerals. You can see the optical fibers of the planktons on the "Khenezi" beach at nights.
Because of its strategic location in the Persian Gulf, Hengam Island has gone through a turbulent history and was occupied by foreigners for a long time; The Portuguese and the British had a military presence on this island during the Safavid and Qajar periods. The traces of the presence of foreigners in the island are still seen; among them we can mention the pier built by the British which have currently become a tourist attraction. There is also a broken and stranded ship remained on the coast from the time of the war with the Portuguese. "Shibderaz" and "Kandalo" are two main passenger piers in Hengam.
People are mostly occupied with aquaculture like fish, shrimp, shell and fishing in Hengam. There is also a bazaar in Hengam where local handicrafts, precious stones, spices and local foods are offered to tourists. A type of Saaj (a kind of local wide pan for baking bread) bread baked here which is called Tamshi. There are also various delicious cuisines in Hengam such as Mahyawa and Sardine fish (called Metota by locals), Havari-e Meygoo and Qalyeh Mahi. One of the most popular local clothes in Hengam is the embroidered Golabatoon Douzi or Bandari pants, which is woven in the island.
Hengm has a beach with sparkling sand and magical shells, limestone rocks, diverse creatures, colorful mountains, a park of crocodiles, and most importantly, warm-hearted people and ancient culture and history. Dolphins come closer to the beach of the island in autumn and stay there until May. You can also see chinkara or the Indian gazelle, Uromastyx aegyptia, The hawksbill sea turtle and Sharks here. Visiting a village with human-like stones is another interesting option in Hengam. Palm trees, Lour or Sacred fig are the most spectacular vegetation in Hengam and Garom Zengi or Indian-almond are most abundantly found in the soil.
