View source for Sitra

{{Short description|Island in Bahrain}}
{{about||the South India Textile Research Association|South India Textile Research Association|The Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra|SITRA}}

{{Infobox islands
| name               = Sitra
| image_name         = 
| image_caption      = 
| image_size         = 
| image_alt          = 
| map                = Bahrain
| map_caption        = Location of Sitra in Bahrain
| native_name        = {{lang|ar|سترة}}
| native_name_link   = Arabic language
| native_name_lang   = 
| sobriquet          = <!-- or |nickname= -->
| location           = [[Persian Gulf]], [[Persian Gulf|Arabian Gulf]]
| coordinates        = {{Coord|26.12|N|50.65|E|region:BH_type:isle_dim:50000_source:enwiki|display=inline,title}}
| archipelago        = [[Bahrain]]
| waterbody          = [[Persian Gulf]],  [[Persian Gulf|Arabian Gulf]]
| total_islands      = 1
| major_islands      = {{hlist|Sitra}}
| area_km2           = 22.45
| coastline_km       = 36
| length_km          = 8.3
| width_km           = 5
| highest_mount      = 
| elevation_m        = 6
| country            = [[Bahrain]]
| country_admin_divisions_title = [[Governorates of Bahrain|Governorate]]
| country_admin_divisions = split between [[Capital Governorate, Bahrain|Capital Governorate]] and [[Southern Governorate]]
| country_largest_city = [[Marquban]]
| country_largest_city_population = 20,000
| demonym            = [[Bahraini (disambiguation)|Bahraini]]
| population         = 72,601
| population_as_of   = 2012
| density_km2        = 3608
| ethnic_groups      = [[Demographics of Bahrain|Bahraini]], [[Ethnic, cultural and religious groups of Bahrain|non-Bahraini]]
| timezone1          = [[UTC+03:00#Arabia Standard Time|AST]]
| utc_offset1        = +3
| website            = 
| iso_code_type      = [[ISO 3166-2:BH|ISO code]]
| iso_code           = BH-14
}}
'''Sitra''' ({{langx|ar|سترة}} or {{lang|ar|سِتْرَة}},<ref>{{Cite web |title=سِتْرَة: Bahrain, name, administrative division, geographic coordinates and map |url=http://www.geographic.org/geographic_names/name.php?uni=6487490&fid=502&c=bahrain |access-date=2011-03-06 |work=Geographical Names}}</ref> ''As-Sitra''),<ref>{{Cite web |title=As Sitra: Bahrain, name, administrative division, geographic coordinates and map |url=http://www.geographic.org/geographic_names/name.php?uni=-1129386&fid=502&c=bahrain |access-date=2011-03-06 |work=Geographical Names}}</ref> also known as '''Sitrah'''<ref>{{cite EB1911|mode=cs2|last=Holdich|first=Thomas Hungerford|authorlink=Thomas Hungerford Holdich|wstitle=Bahrein Islands|volume=3|page=212}}</ref> or '''Sitra Island''' ({{Langx|ar|جزيرة سترة|links=no}} {{Transliteration|ar|DIN|Jazīrat Sitrah}}),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jazīrat as Sitra: Bahrain, name, administrative division, geographic coordinates and map |url=http://www.geographic.org/geographic_names/name.php?uni=-1129979&fid=502&c=bahrain |access-date=2011-03-06 |work=Geographical Names}}</ref> is an [[island]] in Bahrain situated approximately {{convert|5|km|abbr=on}} south of the capital, [[Manama]], which is on [[Bahrain Island]].

== History ==
The island of Sitra has witnessed various conflicts. One notable conflict occurred in 1782 between the local populace and a group of [[House of Khalifa|Al Khalifa]] individuals who arrived in Sitra from [[Zubarah]] seeking supplies. This confrontation resulted in casualties on both sides.<ref>{{in lang|ar}} [http://www.jasblog.com/wp/?p=2900 "Summary of Baharain and Baharna's history", Al Jareesh], Retrieved 4 April 2012</ref>

=== Arab Spring ===
{{Further|Arab Spring in Bahrain|Day of Rage (Bahrain)}}
During the Arab Spring in Bahrain, Sitra played a prominent role as a site of significant protests. The island became a focal point for demonstrations, with numerous citizens gathering to express their grievances. The events during this period led to widespread unrest, injuries, and fatalities among the protesters, marking a critical chapter in the island's contemporary history.

== Geography ==
Situated to the east of [[Bahrain Island]] in the [[Persian Gulf]], Sitra is positioned south of [[Manama]] and [[Nabih Saleh]]. Its western coastline serves as the boundary for [[Tubli Bay]]. Historically, the island was characterized by [[date palm|date-palm]] [[grove (nature)|groves]] and agricultural land with several [[freshwater spring]]s. However, rapid urbanization and development have significantly transformed the island's landscape.

==Demography==

Most of the inhabitants of the island live in nine historic villages: 
*[[Wadyan]]
*[[Al Kharijiya]]
*[[Marquban]]
*[[Al Garrya]]
*[[Mahazza]]
*[[Sufala]]
*[[Abul Aish]]
*[[Halat Um al-Baidh]] (the location of the yacht club and Al Bandar resort)
*[[Al Hamriya]]

There is a massive land reclamation project called [[East Sitra]] which increased the island size by 50% and became the site of a new city.<ref>[https://www.zawya.com/story/Foundation_stone_of_Bahrains_East_Sitra_housing_project_laid-ZAWYA20150615143747/ News]</ref><ref>[http://www.housing.gov.bh/en/NewTowns/East%20Sitra%20project.pdf East Sitra Official site]</ref>

==Economy==
The island's economy used to be based on agriculture and fishing. 
The northern section of the island has been turned into an industrial area. [[Bapco Bahrain|Bapco]] oil storage reservoirs are located in the south. Sitra is also the terminus of the 42-km Dhahran-Sitra [[natural gas]] [[pipeline transport|pipeline]], which connects it to [[Dahran]] in [[Saudi Arabia]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theodora.com/pipelines/middle_east_oil_gas_products_pipelines_map.html |title=Middle East Pipelines map - Crude Oil (petroleum) pipelines - Natural Gas pipelines - Products pipelines |work=Theodora.com/pipelines |access-date=2011-03-06}}</ref>

Several car and furniture showrooms also make up the new development on the island.
The [[Sitra Club]] is a cultural and sports club for the island.

Today Sitra handles Bahrain's entire petroleum production. It is the location of [[Port of Sitra]]. It is also the export center for the oil fields in northeastern [[Saudi Arabia]].
<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9068020/Sitrah
|title=Sitrah
|publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica
|access-date=2007-07-16
}}</ref>

==Education==

Sitra is the site of many school campuses such as [[Al Noor International School]] and [[Indian School, Bahrain]]. The [[Applied Science University (Bahrain)|Applied Science University]] is also located here.

==Transportation==
The [[Sitra Causeway]] connects the north of the island to [[Nabih Saleh]] and to [[Umm al Hussam]] ([[Manama]]) on [[Bahrain Island]]. 
Two small bridges on the south west of Sitra also join Bahrain Island, near the villages of [[Ma'ameer]] and [[Eker]].

==Administration==
The southern part of the island belongs to [[Southern Governorate]] and the northern part to [[Capital Governorate, Bahrain|Capital Governorate]].
Between 1990 and 2013 it was part of [[Central Governorate (Bahrain)|Central Governorate]] of [[Bahrain]], but that has since been dissolved. Between 1920 and 1990 it was part of Sitra Municipality.

===Sitra Municipality===
This was a [[municipalities of Bahrain|municipality in Bahrain]] before they were re-organized as Governorates. The Sitra Municipality consisted of the island of Sitra and three villages close to it on the main island of Bahrain: [[Ma'ameer]], [[Eker]] and [[Nuwaidrat]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.fallingrain.com/world/BA/6/
|title=Directory of Cities and Towns in Sitrah, Bahrain
|publisher=Falling Rain
|access-date=2007-07-16
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070526114359/http://www.fallingrain.com/world/BA/6/ <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-05-26}}</ref>

==Image gallery==
<gallery widths="180">
File:Un-bahrain.png|Map 1
File:Bahrain, administrative divisions 2014 - de - colored.svg|Map Districts
File:Capital Governorate in Bahrain 2014.svg|District Map
File:Southern Governorate in Bahrain 2014.svg|District Map
File:BapcoTanks-SitraBahrain.jpg|[[Bapco Bahrain]] oil reservoirs in Sitra
File:Sitra Wharf, 1940.jpg|Berth number 4 in Sitra [[Wharf]] in 1940
File:Bahrain-Sitrah.png|Map of Bahrain showing Sitrah municipality
File:Sitra_cemetery_-_Flickr_-_Al_Jazeera_English.jpg|Cemetery
File:Women taking part in a pro-democracy sit in in Sitra.jpg| Women taking part in a pro-democracy sit-in in Sitra
File:Bahrain map.png|Sitra (Sitrah), east of Manama, in Bahrain
</gallery>

==See also==
{{portal|Islands}}
* [[List of islands of Bahrain]]

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
*{{commons category-inline|Sitra}}

{{Islands of Bahrain}}
{{Settlements of Sitra}}
{{Capital Governorate of Bahrain}}
{{Southern Governorate of Bahrain}}
{{Portal bar|Bahrain}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sitra}}
[[Category:Sitra| ]]
[[Category:Populated places in Bahrain]]
[[Category:Islands of Bahrain]]
[[Category:Artificial islands of Bahrain]]
[[Category:Former municipalities (regions) of Bahrain]]
[[Category:Islands of the Persian Gulf]]