Wakan, Wukan[1] or Wekan[2] (Arabic: وكان, romanized: wkān) is a village in the wilayah of Nakhal in Oman. It lies on the slopes of the Wadi Mistal mountains at an altitude of approximately 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) above sea level[3][4][nb 1] in the Western Hajar Mountains, 140 kilometres (87 mi) from Muscat and 56 kilometres (35 mi) from Nakhal.
Wakan
وكان | |
|---|---|
Village | |
 The village of Wakan overlooking Wadi Mistal | |
  Wakan Location of Wakan in Oman | |
| Coordinates: 23°8′37″N 57°44′5″E / 23.14361°N 57.73472°E | |
| Country |  Oman |
| Governorate | Al-Batinah South |
| Wilayah | Nakhal |
| Population (2020) | 162[1] |
| Time zone | UTC+4 (GST) |
The village is known for its terraced gardens and orchards, where pomegranates, apricots, peaches and dates are grown.[4] Unlike the majority of Oman, where the climate is hot and dry,[5] the village enjoys mild temperatures in summer and cold winters, thanks to its altitude and location.[6] A system of falaj runs through the village, carrying water from the top of the mountain to irrigate the fields.[7]
Farming and tourism are the main sources of income for its inhabitants.[6]
Population
edit| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 124 | — |
| 2010 | 112 | −9.7% |
| 2020 | 162 | +44.6% |
As of 2020, the village counted 162 inhabitants. Of these, 135 were Omani nationals and 27 foreign residents (16.7%).[1]
Tourism
editTourism contributes to the livelihoods of the village inhabitants.[6] Tourists visit the village for its vantage point, offering views over the Wadi Mistal and the surrounding mountains, as well as for its terraced gardens. A walking trail of 700 steps starts at the entrance of the village and guides the visitors to the top through orchards and fields.[8]
A tourist attraction is the apricot blossom season, from February[9] to mid-March. The harvest season is usually in mid-April and lasts about two weeks.[7]
The village is reached from the Nakhal-Awabi Highway 13, through Wadi Mistal on a graded road until the final ascent to the village, on a mountain road that requires a four-wheel drive vehicle.[9]
Sport
editThe village is the starting point of two trekking routes:[3]
- W24b: Wakan to Hadash (Arabic: حدش) via Al Qawrah
- W25: Wakan to Hadash via the north flank of the Saiq Plateau
Wakan hosted the first edition of the Red Bull Titan of the Hill race, a downhill mountain biking and enduro competition, in 2017.[10]
Notes
edit- ^ Several non-specialized sources report an altitude of 2000 m.
References
edit- ^ a b c "Wukan (Nakhal, Al Batinah South Governorate, Oman) - Population Statistics". CityPopulation.de. Archived from the original on 27 December 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ^ "Oman Tourism: Visit Picturesque Wekan". Times of Oman. 14 June 2016. Archived from the original on 27 December 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Oman Trekking Explorer" (PDF). destinationoman.com. Minister of Tourism, Oman. 2005. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 December 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ^ a b Al-Kalbani, Basim; Al-Yahyai, Rashid; Al-Sadi, Abdullah; Al-Mamari, Al-Ghaliya (30 July 2020). "Distribution Of Pomegranates and Other Deciduous Fruit Crops in Omani Mountains". Solid State Technology. 63 (1): 917–926. Archived from the original on 27 February 2024. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
- ^ "World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal". Climate Change Knowledge Portal. Archived from the original on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ a b c "قرية " وكان " بوادي مستل مزار سياحي تجمع الطابع الجبلي والسهلي والتنوع الزراعي". Oman Info (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 7 November 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ^ a b "We Love Oman: Beckoning the season of apricots in Oman". Times of Oman. 21 March 2023. Archived from the original on 27 December 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ^ "We Love Oman: Terraced gardens of Wakan Village". Times of Oman. 21 November 2022. Archived from the original on 27 December 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ^ a b The Rough Guide to Oman. Apa Publications. 1 October 2018. p. 195. ISBN 978-1-78919-507-1. Archived from the original on 27 February 2024. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
- ^ "Red Bull Titan Of The Hill makes event debut in Oman". Times of Oman. 16 April 2017. Archived from the original on 27 December 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.