Harra (Mangrove) protected area
Harra Protected Area and the International Khor Khoran Lagoon is a collection of green Mangrove or Harra coastal trees which are located around Qeshm Island, Bandar-e Pol, Hormoz Island and Khamir Island in Hormozgan Province and are considered the sights with their streams, beautiful birds and intact wild nature in Hormozgan Province.
The forests are normally protected by the Environment Protection Organization. Harra complex in the north-west of Qeshm is known as biosphere reservoir for its international significance.
This protected area is one of the five forests of Hormozgan Province in the north-west of Qeshm Island with an area of 85686 hectares and also one of the 11 biosphere reservoirs in Iran.
Harra is a plant from the family of verbena. Its seeds grow on mother tree and produce saplings. Then it is separated from the tree and dropped into the lagoon. Harra forest is in the sea and salt water and this compromise with salty water and poor conditions have made Harra an extraordinary plant.
This shrub can be seen in the beaches and coastal lagoons of Egypt, Arabia and southern beaches in Iran. The plant is called Hara, Tamar, and Tul in Bandar-e Abbas, Baluchistan, and some other areas, respectively. Arabs also call it Shuri or Shureh.
Harra (Hormozgan) became under protection on 25th of Shahrivar 1361.
