Hormuz

Hormuz is a geographic name associated with two closely linked features in the Persian Gulf region: the Strait of Hormuz and Hormuz Island. The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway that links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, lying between Iran to the north and the Arabian Peninsula to the south. It is one of the world’s most strategically important maritime passages, through which a substantial portion of the globe’s crude oil and natural gas shipments pass. The strait’s control has long influenced regional power dynamics and international diplomacy.

Hormuz Island sits in the strait off the southern coast of Iran and is administratively part of Hormozgan Province. The island is known for its rugged coastline, saline flats, and distinctive geology, including areas of red soil and colorful rock formations often highlighted as Rainbow Hills. A fortified settlement and other remnants from various historical periods mark the island, reflecting centuries of trade, conflict, and cultural exchange. The island supports a small resident community engaged in fishing, agriculture, and increasingly tourism.

Historically, the area was known in Persian, Arab, and Portuguese sources as Ormuz and was a center of trade linking the Persian Gulf with the Indian Ocean. In the early modern era, control of the island and nearby routes changed hands among regional rulers and European powers before coming under Iranian governance in the modern period.