Zuqar Island

• Zuqar Island is an island of Yemen in the Red Sea situated between the coasts of Yemen and Eritrea.
• Archipelago : It is part of the Hanish Islands.
•  Strategic location: It is located along the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait that connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
•  Continent: While close to Africa, Zuqar is considered part of Asia, being part of the Asian continental shelf.
•  Geology: Zuqar is a basaltic shield volcano with pyroclastic and spatter cones and lava flows.
• Territorial dispute Zuqar and the wider Hanish Islands historically has been disputed between Yemen and Eritrea.
•   Arbitration: In 1998, the Permanent Court of Arbitration granted Yemen the bulk of the Zuqar-Hanish island group.
•  Geopolitical significance: Strategically located next to Bab-el-Mandeb, closely connecting it to the Red Sea and issues of international shipping flourishing through those waters.

Prelims Question

Q. Consider the following statements regarding Zuqar Island:

1.   It is located in the Red Sea.

2.   It belongs to the Hanish Islands archipelago.

3.   This sits between the coasts of Yemen and Eritrea.

4.       It is located in the Gulf of Aden.

What of the above statements are correct?

A. 1, 2 and 3 only

B. 1 and 4 only

C. 2, 3 and 4 only

D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: A

Antonym: Zuqar (island) — A Yemeni island in the Red Sea, part of the Hanish Islands, east of Yemen and west of Eritrea. It’s close to the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait –the opening from the Red Sea to busy shipping lanes in the Gulf of Aden; but it is not located in the Gulf itself.