Wakan, Oman
Village in Oman
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 | |
| Country |  Oman |
| Governorate | Al-Batinah South |
| Wilayah | Nakhal |
| Population (2020)[1] | |
• Total | 162 |
| 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
| 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
Tourism 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
The 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
- Several non-specialized sources report an altitude of 2000 m.