'Asir
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'Asir (Arabic: عسير) is a province of Saudi Arabia located in the southwest of the country. It has an area of 81,000 km² and an estimated population of 1,563,000. It shares a short border with Yemen. Its capital is Abha. Other towns include Khamis Mushayt and Qal'at Bishah.
Geographically, the 'Asir region is situated on a high plateau that receives more rainfall than the rest of the country and contains the country's highest peaks, which rise to almost 3,000 metres at Jebel Akhbar near Abha. Though data is exceedingly sparse and unreliable, the average annual rainfall in the highlands probably ranges from 300 to 500 millimetres (12 to 20 inches) falling in two rainy seasons, the chief one being in March and April with some rain in the summer. Temperatures are very extreme, with diurnal temperature ranges in the highest lands the greatest in the world. It is common for afternoon temperatures to be over 30°C (86°F) yet mornings can be extremely frosty and fog can cut visibility to near zero percent. As a result, there is much more natural vegetation in 'Asir than in any other part of Saudi Arabia, with sheltered areas even containing areas of dense coniferous forests, though more exposed ridges still are very dry. 'Asir is home to many farmers who chiefly grow wheat and fruit crops, though irrigation has greatly expanded production in modern times.
'Asir, along with the Najran and Jizan provinces, was an independent kingdom until Saudi Arabia annexed it in 1934. The region's culture has more in common with that of Yemen than the rest of Saudi Arabia. This is most notable in the dress and architectural styles, which are adapted to cope with the occasional very heavy downpours by deflecting them from houses. Also, 'Asir has been much less affected by the oil boom than has the rest of Saudi Arabia, and the modern urban development of cities like Riyadh is largely absent except to some extent in Abha, which serves as a resort town for wealthy Saudis during the extremely hot summers.
Tribal laws and customs are still exceedingly strong among the peoples of this region.
[edit] See also
[edit] Trivia
- 12 of the 15 Saudi hijackers in the September 11 terrorist attacks came from the 'Asir region.
| Provinces of Saudi Arabia |  |
|---|---|
| Al Bahah | Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah | Al Jawf | Al Madinah | Al Qasim | Ar Riyad | Ash Sharqiyah | 'Asir | Ha'il | Jizan | Makkah | Najran | Tabuk | |
