OMAN
(The Sultanate of Oman, the Country ruling Sultan)

Capital: Muscat (Muscat)

Flag: a flag red with a wide strip of white color on the top fly and green on the lower fly. In the left top corner the white crossed swords impose a ceremonial dagger.

Gimp: Neshid as-Salam kak-Sutani (national anthem by Sultan).

MONETARY GROUP: The Omaniysky rial (ро) created in November, 1972 represents paper currency in 1000 baizas. There are coins from 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250 and 500 bayy and also banknotes 100, 250 and 500 bayy (the last two are replaced with coins) both 1, 5, 10, 20, and 50 rials. ro1 = $2.56410 (or $1 = ro0.39) as of 2005.

WEIGHT AND MEASURES: the metric system was accepted on November 15, 1974. Imperial and local system are also used.

HOLIDAYS: Joining of the sultan, on July 23; National day, on November 18; Birthday of Sultan, on November 19. Moveable Muslim religious feasts include "Id al-Fitr", "Id al-'Adha" and Milad an-Nabi.
TIME: 16:00 - midday. Also solar time is observed.

ARRANGEMENT, SIZE AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Sultanate of Oman is the second-large country after Saudi Arabia on Arabian Peninsula which area is officially estimated at 212 460 sq.km (82 031 quarter. Miles). Rather, the area occupied with Oman is a little less, than the State of Kansas. The territory of Oman includes a tip of strategically important Musand R which rushes into the Strait of Hormuz. The Omani part of the peninsula is separated from other part of the country by the territory of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Oman stretches for 972 km (604 miles) of ne-sw and 513 km (319 miles) of se-nw. It borders on Russians the Strait of Hormuz, on the bank of the Gulf of Oman, on the seashore and in the Arabian Sea, on the People's Democratic Republic Yemen (PDRY), on Ar-Rub al-Hali (Empty quarter) and Saudi Arabia and also in the United Arab Emirates. The total settlement length of border is 3,466 km (2 154 miles) from which 2092 km (1300 miles) are the coastline.

TOPOGRAPHY

Physically Oman, except for the Region of Dofar (Zufar), consists of three divisions: coastal plain, ridge and plateau. The coastal plain varies in width from 16 km (10 miles) to almost nothing about Muscat where hills sharply go down to the sea. The highest point, Dzhabal-Shams, is at the height of 2980 meters (9 777 feet) in a northern part of Al-Jabala. The plateau has the average height about 300 m (1000 feet) both generally stony and waterless, stretching to Ar-Rub al-Hali sands. The coastline on the South to Dofar fruitless and forbidden. From Salala the semicircular fertile plain stretches to the bottom of the cool line of hills about 1500 m high (4 920 feet) and forms the region of the stony plateau which is also stretching to sands of Empty quarter.

CLIMATE

The annual amount of precipitation in Muscat makes 10 cm (4 inches) that generally falls in January. Dofar submits to a southwest monsoon, and a rain rain up to 64 cm (25 inches).