Hajhir Mountains

The Hajhir massif is a mountain range situated on the island of Socotra, Yemen. It is the highest point of the island.

Not to be confused with Al Hajar Mountains.
Hajhir Mountains
The twin peaks of Mashanig. The fallen pillar bridging the peaks is called "Mishifo". The left-hand tower is the ultra-high point of the range.
Highest point
Elevation1,503[1] m (4,931 ft)
Coordinates12.582376°N 54.039919°E / 12.582376; 54.039919 
Geography
Hajhir Mountains
Soqotra
LocationSoqotra, Yemen and Somalia
Parent rangeHajhir Mountains
Climbing
First ascentUnknown, possibly a Soqotri goatherder

Geography

The granite spires of the Hajhir massif are located in the hinterland of Soqotra and are most easily accessed via the valley approaches north of the coastal town of Hadibo. The ultra-high point of the range is the high peak of Mashanig which lies at approximately 1,500 m (4,900 ft) above sea level. Other peaks of local prominence include Girhimitin, Hazrat Muqadriyoun and Herem Hajhir.

Etymology

The name "Hajhir" (Soqotri: هَجْهِر), sometimes transliterated as "Hagghier" or "Hagher" in English,[2] likely derives from the Arabic "ḥijr" (حِجْر, meaning "stone"). Other possible origins of the range's name include the word "hajar" (Arabic: هجر‎, meaning "to flee").

The name "Mashanig" (Soqotri: مَشَنِغ, meaning "the split one"), likely derives from the Arabic verb "inshaq" (إِنْشَق, meaning "to split"), from which one gets the word "munshuq" (مُنْشُق, meaning "splittist").

Climbing history

Bedouin goatherds have a long history of climbing in the Hajhir. A 2014 study of Soqotri oral storytelling traditions revealed that a number of popular myths recount ascents throughout the range by local goatherds. According to the anthropologist Christopher Elliott, many accounts demonstrate a strong oral chain of transmission that links mythical characters with actual pre-modern ascents.[3]

See also

References
  1. Hajhir Mountains, Socotra Island, Yemen, Earth Observatory, 2003-01-29
  2. Aemnp
  3. Elliott, Christopher. Shop "From Rock Upon Rock, A Mountain" Check |url= value (help). Alpinist Magazine. Height of Land Publications.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.