radio: Film-based anthology shows: …up its own radio station, KFWB, in Los Angeles as a means to promote its films and stars; other studios soon followed this example.

Kevin Garnett is an American professional basketball player who was one of the most versatile and dominant players of his time. Garnett played three seasons of high school basketball in South Carolina before transferring to a school in Chicago for his senior year. In 1995 the 6-foot 11-inch

kilogram (kg), basic unit of mass in the metric system. A kilogram is very nearly equal (it was originally intended to be exactly equal) to the mass of 1,000 cubic cm of water. The pound is defined as equal to 0.45359237 kg, exactly. As originally defined, the kilogram was represented in the late

Botswana: Ethnic groups: …besides Tswana, that of the Khalagari (Western Sotho), has become so incorporated as to be almost indistinguishable from the Tswana. Even their name is now usually rendered in the Tswana form as “Kgalagadi.”

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, nature conservation area in the Kalahari. It lies within South Africa and Botswana and occupies an area of 14,668 square miles (37,991 square km), about three-quarters of which is in Botswana. The park was established to protect migratory animal populations that cross

Khama III was a Southern African Tswana (“Bechuana” in older variant orthography) chief of Bechuanaland who allied himself with British colonizers in the area. Khama was converted to Christianity in 1860, and, after more than a decade of dissension between his supporters and those loyal to his

Khama III was a Southern African Tswana (“Bechuana” in older variant orthography) chief of Bechuanaland who allied himself with British colonizers in the area. Khama was converted to Christianity in 1860, and, after more than a decade of dissension between his supporters and those loyal to his

KGB, foreign intelligence and domestic security agency of the Soviet Union. During the Soviet era the KGB’s responsibilities also included the protection of the country’s political leadership, the supervision of border troops, and the general surveillance of the population. Established in 1954, the

Pedi: …and living unit is the kgoro, which is a semicircular residential cluster of dwellings sheltering an extended family that is established around a group of related males but that may also include other people. The important son of a chief often establishes kgoros. The Pedi chief (kgosi) is the overall…

Keorapetse Kgositsile was a South African poet and essayist whose writings focus on Pan-African liberation as the fruit of informed heroism and compassionate humanism. Kgositsile’s verse uniquely combines indigenous South African with black American structural and rhetorical traditions. Kgositsile

Keorapetse Kgositsile was a South African poet and essayist whose writings focus on Pan-African liberation as the fruit of informed heroism and compassionate humanism. Kgositsile’s verse uniquely combines indigenous South African with black American structural and rhetorical traditions. Kgositsile

Tibet, historic region and autonomous region of China that is often called “the roof of the world.” It occupies a vast area of plateaus and mountains in Central Asia, including Mount Everest (Qomolangma [or Zhumulangma] Feng; Tibetan: Chomolungma). It is bordered by the Chinese provinces of Qinghai

Arabic literature: Belles lettres and narrative prose: …generic title of which is khabar (“report”). The first segment in this format consisted of the isnād (“chain of authority”), which used a variety of verbs to register the type of narrative involved and, most significantly, established the level of the report’s veracity by listing the names of transmitters back…

Arabian Desert: Soils: …silts eventually are deposited in khabari, or silt flats.

Amur River: History: …between 1644 and 1646, and Yerofey P. Khabarov (1649–51), for whom Khabarovsk is named. In 1849–55 an expedition led by the Russian naval officer Gennady I. Nevelskoy proved that Sakhalin is an island and that, therefore, the Amur is accessible from the south and not from the north alone, as…

Khabarovsk, city and administrative centre of Khabarovsk kray (territory), far eastern Russia. Khabarovsk lies along the Amur River just below its confluence with the Ussuri. The town was named after the Russian explorer E.P. Khabarov, who made several expeditions to the Amur River basin in the

Khabarovsk, city and administrative centre of Khabarovsk kray (territory), far eastern Russia. Khabarovsk lies along the Amur River just below its confluence with the Ussuri. The town was named after the Russian explorer E.P. Khabarov, who made several expeditions to the Amur River basin in the

Khabarovsk, kray (region), far eastern Russia. The kray includes the Yevreyskaya (Jewish) autonomous oblast (province). Its focus is the basin of the lower Amur River, flanked by the Sikhote-Alin mountains (south) and by the complex of mountains (north) dominated by the Bureya Range and a series of

ancient Egypt: The second Persian period: …during which a Nubian prince, Khabbash, seems to have gained control over Egypt, but Persian domination was reestablished in 335 bce under Darius III Codommanus. It was to last only three years.

Mongolia: The rise of Genghis Khan: …he was the great-grandson of Khabul (Qabul) Khan, who had been the greatest ruler of All the Mongols. Temüüjin inherited a feud against the Juchen-Jin dynasty and another against the Tatars, who had betrayed a collateral ancestor of his to the Juchen. His own father was poisoned by Tatars. He…

Khābūr River, river, an important tributary of the Euphrates River. It rises in the mountains of southeastern Turkey near Diyarbakır and flows southeastward to Al-Ḥasakah, Syria, where it receives its main tributary, the Jaghjagh; it then meanders south to join the Euphrates downstream from Dayr

Khābūr River, river, an important tributary of the Euphrates River. It rises in the mountains of southeastern Turkey near Diyarbakır and flows southeastward to Al-Ḥasakah, Syria, where it receives its main tributary, the Jaghjagh; it then meanders south to join the Euphrates downstream from Dayr

Aram Khachaturian was a Soviet Armenian composer best known for his Piano Concerto (1936) and his ballet Gayane (1942), which includes the popular, rhythmically stirring “Sabre Dance.” Khachaturian was born to an Armenian family, and his first experiences of music were the folk songs of his mother

Aram Khachaturian was a Soviet Armenian composer best known for his Piano Concerto (1936) and his ballet Gayane (1942), which includes the popular, rhythmically stirring “Sabre Dance.” Khachaturian was born to an Armenian family, and his first experiences of music were the folk songs of his mother

Muammar al-Qaddafi was the de facto leader of Libya (1969–2011). Qaddafi had ruled for more than four decades when he was ousted by a revolt in August 2011. After evading capture for several weeks, he was killed by rebel forces in October 2011. The son of an itinerant Bedouin farmer, Qaddafi was

Ganges River: Physiography: …Hindi and Urdu as the khadar, naturally occur in the vicinity of the present channels. The delta’s growth is dominated by tidal processes.

Ganges River: Physiography: …Hindi and Urdu as the khadar, naturally occur in the vicinity of the present channels. The delta’s growth is dominated by tidal processes.

Pakistan: The Indus River plain: …locally as a khaddar or bet), which lies adjacent to a river, is often called “the summer bed of rivers,” as it is inundated almost every rainy season. It is the scene of changing river channels, though protective bunds (levees) have been built at many places on the outer margin…

Khadījah was a merchant who was the first wife of the Prophet Muhammad. Little is known about her apart from the posthumous accounts of Muhammad’s life (sīrah) and teachings (Hadith). Khadījah was born in the 6th century ce to merchants of the Quraysh tribe, which ruled Mecca. The Sīrah of ʿAbd

Khadījah was a merchant who was the first wife of the Prophet Muhammad. Little is known about her apart from the posthumous accounts of Muhammad’s life (sīrah) and teachings (Hadith). Khadījah was born in the 6th century ce to merchants of the Quraysh tribe, which ruled Mecca. The Sīrah of ʿAbd

al-Khiḍr, a legendary Islamic figure endowed with immortal life who became a popular saint, especially among sailors and Sufis (Muslim mystics). The cycle of myths and stories surrounding al-Khiḍr originated in a vague narrative in the Qurʾān (18:60–82) that describes the long and arduous journey

Leo Tolstoy: Fiction after 1880 of Leo Tolstoy: …notably the novella Khadji-Murat (1904; Hadji-Murad), a brilliant narrative about the Caucasus reminiscent of Tolstoy’s earliest fiction.

Aurangabad, city, west-central Maharashtra state, western India. It is situated in a hilly upland region on the Kaum River. The city, originally known as Khadki, was founded by Malik Ambar (ʿAnbar) in 1610. After the fall of the Nizam Shāhī dynasty in 1633, the city came under Mughal rule. It was

Astrakhan, city and administrative centre of Astrakhan oblast (province), southwestern Russia. Astrakhan city is situated in the delta of the Volga River, 60 miles (100 km) from the Caspian Sea. It lies on several islands on the left bank of the main, westernmost channel of the Volga. Astrakhan was

Tutub, modern Khafājī, ancient Sumerian city-state located in the Diyālā Valley east of Baghdad, Iraq. Tutub was of greatest significance during the Early Dynastic Period (c. 2900–2334 bc), and important remains have been found dating to that period—particularly the temple oval. Tutub was excavated

khitān: …circumcision of the female (properly khafḍ). Muslim traditions (Ḥadīth) recognize khitān as a pre-Islamic rite customary among the Arabs and place it in the same category as the trimming of mustaches, the cutting of nails, and the cleaning of the teeth with a toothpick.

Khafre was a king of the 4th dynasty of ancient Egypt who ruled c. 2472–c. 2448 bce and built the second of the three Pyramids of Giza. Khafre was the son of King Khufu and succeeded the short-lived Redjedef, probably his elder brother. He married his sister Khamerernebti, Meresankh III, and

Pyramids of Giza: That of Khafre retains the outer limestone casing only at its topmost portion. Constructed near each pyramid was a mortuary temple, which was linked via a sloping causeway to a valley temple on the edge of the Nile floodplain. Also nearby were subsidiary pyramids used for the…

Khafre was a king of the 4th dynasty of ancient Egypt who ruled c. 2472–c. 2448 bce and built the second of the three Pyramids of Giza. Khafre was the son of King Khufu and succeeded the short-lived Redjedef, probably his elder brother. He married his sister Khamerernebti, Meresankh III, and

Khazar: …of semireligious character called a khagan—who wielded little real power—and by tribal chieftains, each known as a beg. The state’s military organization also seems to have lacked the forcefulness of those of the greater Turkic-Mongol empires. The Khazars seem to have been more inclined to a sedentary way of life,…

Great Escarpment, plateau edge of southern Africa that separates the region’s highland interior plateau from the fairly narrow coastal strip. It lies predominantly within the Republic of South Africa and Lesotho but extends northeastward into eastern Zimbabwe (where it separates much of that

throat-singing, a range of singing styles in which a single vocalist sounds more than one pitch simultaneously by reinforcing certain harmonics (overtones and undertones) of the fundamental pitch. In some styles, harmonic melodies are sounded above a fundamental vocal drone. Originally called

Khai Dinh was the emperor of Vietnam in 1916–25 and an advocate of cooperation with the colonial power, France. Khai Dinh was the eldest son of the emperor Dong Khanh and was immediately preceded as emperor by Thanh-thai (1889–1907) and Duy Tan (1907–16). He believed that Vietnam was too backward

Khyber Pass, mountain pass in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, on the border with Nangarhar province, Afghanistan. The pass connects Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, with Peshawar, Pakistan. The name Khyber is also applied to the range through which the pass runs—a series of arid broken

Nepal: Plant life: These forests consist mainly of khair (Acacia catechu), a spring tree with yellow flowers and flat pods; sissoo (Dalbergia sissoo), an East Indian tree yielding dark brown durable timber; and sal (Shorea robusta), an East Indian timber tree with foliage providing food for lac insects (which deposit lac, a resinous…

Mohammed Khaïr-Eddine was a French-language poet and novelist who was a leader among post-independence Moroccan writers seeking a new and distinctly Moroccan poetic voice. Khaïr-Eddine completed his secondary studies in Casablanca and then worked for the government in Agadir, helping to restore

Chaeronea, in ancient Greece, fortified town on Mt. Petrachus, guarding the entry into the northern plain of Boeotia. Controlled by the Boeotian city of Orchomenus (q.v.) in the 5th century bc, it was the scene of the battle in which Philip II of Macedon defeated Thebes and Athens (338 bc). The

Khairpur, city, Sindh province, south-central Pakistan. The city lies along the Khairpur East Canal, 11 miles (18 km) south of the Indus River. It was founded in 1783 by Mīr (chief) Sohrāb Khān, who established the Khairpur branch of the Tālpur family. The settlement was selected as the seat of the

Khairpur, city, Sindh province, south-central Pakistan. The city lies along the Khairpur East Canal, 11 miles (18 km) south of the Indus River. It was founded in 1783 by Mīr (chief) Sohrāb Khān, who established the Khairpur branch of the Tālpur family. The settlement was selected as the seat of the

Giovanni da Montecorvino: …that in 1311 Montecorvino baptized Khaishan Külüg, the third great khan (1307–11), and his mother. This event has been disputed, but he was unquestionably successful in northern and eastern China. He was apparently the only effective European proselytizer in medieval Peking, but the results of his mission were lost in…

Abkhazia: History: Raul Khajimba, a former vice president who had led the opposition against Ankvab, was narrowly elected president months later and likewise faced organized efforts to force his resignation. He survived those efforts, however, and sought a second term in an election set originally for July…

Khajuraho, historic town, northern Madhya Pradesh state, central India. It is a famous tourist and archaeological site known for its sculptured temples dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu, and Jaina patriarchs. The monuments at Khajuraho were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986. Khajuraho, or

Thar Desert: Land: The khajri (or khejri) tree (Prosopis cineraria) grows throughout the plains.

Khajuraho, historic town, northern Madhya Pradesh state, central India. It is a famous tourist and archaeological site known for its sculptured temples dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu, and Jaina patriarchs. The monuments at Khajuraho were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986. Khajuraho, or

history of Central Asia: Timur: …a dialect derived partly from Khakani, the language spoken at the Karakhanid court (and a precursor of modern Uzbek), emerging as a flexible vehicle for sophisticated literary expression. These Timurid epigones, however, were locked in unceasing rivalry with each other and were unable to combine against intruders from beyond their…

Khakass, people who have given their name to Khakassia republic in central Russia. The general name Khakass encompasses five Turkic-speaking groups that differ widely in their ethnic origin as well as in their culture and everyday life: the Kacha, Sagay (Sagai), Beltir, Kyzyl, and Koybal. Before

Khakasiya, republic in central Russia. The republic occupies the western half of the broad Minusinsk Basin on the upper Yenisey River. The Abakan River, a tributary of the Yenisey, forms the axis of the republic. Southeast of the Abakan’s valley rise the Western (Zapadny) Sayan mountains, reaching

Khakass, people who have given their name to Khakassia republic in central Russia. The general name Khakass encompasses five Turkic-speaking groups that differ widely in their ethnic origin as well as in their culture and everyday life: the Kacha, Sagay (Sagai), Beltir, Kyzyl, and Koybal. Before

Khakasiya, republic in central Russia. The republic occupies the western half of the broad Minusinsk Basin on the upper Yenisey River. The Abakan River, a tributary of the Yenisey, forms the axis of the republic. Southeast of the Abakan’s valley rise the Western (Zapadny) Sayan mountains, reaching

khaki, light brown fabric used primarily for military uniforms. It is made with cotton, wool, or combinations of these fibres, as well as with blends of synthetic fibres. It is made in a variety of weaves, such as serge. Khaki uniforms were introduced by Sir Harry Burnett Lumsden and William

Arabic literature: Modern Arabic poetry: …core of this group were Yūsuf al-Khāl and Adonis (the pen name of ʿAlī Aḥmad Saʿīd), arguably the most influential figure in modern Arabic poetry. In its radical approach to poetic form (including the prose poem) and its experiments with language and imagery, this group was emblematic of the many…

Abū Nuwās: …Wālibah ibn al-Ḥubāb, later under Khalaf al-Aḥmar. He also studied the Qurʾān (Islāmic sacred scripture), Ḥadīth (traditions relating to the life and utterances of the Prophet), and grammar and is said to have spent a year with the Bedouins in the desert to acquire their traditional purity of language.

Ṣalāḥ Khalaf was a Palestinian political activist who was a founding member of the Fatah faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and a close associate of PLO leader Yāsir ʿArafāt. Khalaf’s family fled to the Gaza Strip in 1948 during the conflict that accompanied Israel’s

Botswana: Ethnic groups: …besides Tswana, that of the Khalagari (Western Sotho), has become so incorporated as to be almost indistinguishable from the Tswana. Even their name is now usually rendered in the Tswana form as “Kgalagadi.”

Ghilzay: …least in part from the Khalaj or Khilji Turks, who entered Afghanistan in the 10th century. The Lodi, who established a dynasty on the throne of Delhi in Hindustan (1450–1526), were a branch of the Ghilzay, and in the early 18th century Mir Vais Khan, a Ghilzay chieftain, captured Kandahar…

Turkic languages: Classification: …middle course of the Volga; Khalaj, descended from the Old Turkic Arghu dialect, is spoken in central Iran.

African music: Lutes: …lutes such as the konting, khalam, and the nkoni (which was noted by Ibn Baṭṭūṭah in 1353) may have originated in ancient Egypt. The khalam is claimed to be the ancestor of the banjo. Another long-necked lute is the ramkie of South Africa.

Aegean civilizations: Period of the Early Palaces in Crete (c. 2000–1700): …point the fortified settlement at Khalandrianí on Syrus was destroyed by fire and abandoned, but Aegina, Ceos, and other fortified island towns flourished.

Simin Behbahani was an Iranian poet who earned the sobriquet “the lioness of Iran” for eloquently challenging national authorities and expressing her steadfast opposition to oppression and violence in more than 600 poems. Prior to her birth, Khalili’s father, an editor and writer, was temporarily

al-Qaeda in Iraq: …first appeared in 2004, when Abū Muṣʿab al-Zarqāwī, a Jordanian-born militant already leading insurgent attacks in Iraq, formed an alliance with al-Qaeda, pledging his group’s allegiance to Osama bin Laden in return for bin Laden’s endorsement as the leader of al-Qaeda’s franchise in Iraq. Al-Zarqāwī, who quickly came to be…

Ibn Khaldūn was the greatest Arab historian, who developed one of the earliest nonreligious philosophies of history, contained in his masterpiece, the Muqaddimah (“Introduction”). He also wrote a definitive history of Muslim North Africa. Ibn Khaldūn was born in Tunis in 1332; the Khaldūniyyah

Khaled is an Algerian popular singer who introduced Western audiences to raï—a form of Algerian popular music blending North African, Middle Eastern, and Western traditions. Khaled was known for exuding happiness, especially when performing. By age 10 he was playing a variety of instruments,

Khaled is an Algerian popular singer who introduced Western audiences to raï—a form of Algerian popular music blending North African, Middle Eastern, and Western traditions. Khaled was known for exuding happiness, especially when performing. By age 10 he was playing a variety of instruments,

Amr Khaled is an Egyptian televangelist who achieved global fame with his message of religious tolerance and dialogue with the West. Khaled’s family was not religious, but, as a high-school student, he found himself seeking more meaning in his life. He studied the Qurʾān, visited mosques, and began

Khaled is an Algerian popular singer who introduced Western audiences to raï—a form of Algerian popular music blending North African, Middle Eastern, and Western traditions. Khaled was known for exuding happiness, especially when performing. By age 10 he was playing a variety of instruments,

keffiyeh: Political symbol: …worn by men, pictures of Leila Khaled, a prominent Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) member, wearing the keffiyeh in the style of the hijab or wrapped around her neck began circulating in the media in the 1970s. Khaled wearing the keffiyeh broke down gender norms associated with…

Khaleda Zia is a Bangladeshi politician who served as prime minister of Bangladesh in 1991–96 and 2001–06. She was the first woman to serve as prime minister of the country, and she governed during a period of natural disasters, economic distress, and civil unrest. Khaleda was the third of five

Khaleda Zia is a Bangladeshi politician who served as prime minister of Bangladesh in 1991–96 and 2001–06. She was the first woman to serve as prime minister of the country, and she governed during a period of natural disasters, economic distress, and civil unrest. Khaleda was the third of five

Khaleda Zia is a Bangladeshi politician who served as prime minister of Bangladesh in 1991–96 and 2001–06. She was the first woman to serve as prime minister of the country, and she governed during a period of natural disasters, economic distress, and civil unrest. Khaleda was the third of five

Pact of Halepa, convention signed in October 1878 at Khalépa, a suburb of Canea, by which the Turkish sultan Abdülhamid II (ruled 1876–1909) granted a large degree of self-government to Greeks in Crete as a means to quell their insurrection against Turkish overlords. It supplemented previous

Pact of Halepa, convention signed in October 1878 at Khalépa, a suburb of Canea, by which the Turkish sultan Abdülhamid II (ruled 1876–1909) granted a large degree of self-government to Greeks in Crete as a means to quell their insurrection against Turkish overlords. It supplemented previous

South Asian arts: North India: …have a further feature, the khali (“empty”), a conscious negation of stress occurring at one or more points in each tala where one would expect a beat. It often falls at the halfway point in the time cycle and is marked by a wave of the hand. There is nothing…

Yiddish literature: Writers in Poland and the Soviet Union: …the Warsaw-based group known as Khaliastre (“The Gang”). After he moved to Palestine in 1924, he concentrated on writing in Hebrew.

Khālid al-Qasrī was a governor of Iraq under the Umayyad caliphate. Khālid began his official career in 710 as governor of Mecca, a position he held until 715, when the caliph al-Walīd, who had appointed him, was succeeded by Sulaymān, who dismissed him. Until 724 he lived in retirement but was

Khālid ibn al-Walīd was one of the two generals (with ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ) of the enormously successful Islamic expansion under the Prophet Muhammad and his immediate successors, Abū Bakr and ʿUmar. Although he fought against Muhammad at Uḥud (625), Khālid was later converted (627/629) and joined

Barmakids: Khālid ibn Barmak.: Khālid ibn Barmak is the first Barmakid about whom much is known. He first appears in the mid-8th century as a supporter of the revolutionary movement that established the ʿAbbāsid caliphate. In 747 Khālid was put in charge of the distribution of…

Saudi Arabia: Second Saudi state: Khalid, son of Saud and brother of Abdullah, was installed as ruler of Najd by the Egyptians on the condition that he recognize Egyptian hegemony.

Khalid of Saudi Arabia was the king of Saudi Arabia (1975–82), who succeeded his half brother Faisal as king when Faisal was assassinated in 1975. A moderate influence in Middle East politics and a relatively retiring man, he left much of the administration of the country to his half brother Fahd,

Khālid al-Qasrī was a governor of Iraq under the Umayyad caliphate. Khālid began his official career in 710 as governor of Mecca, a position he held until 715, when the caliph al-Walīd, who had appointed him, was succeeded by Sulaymān, who dismissed him. Until 724 he lived in retirement but was

Khalid of Saudi Arabia was the king of Saudi Arabia (1975–82), who succeeded his half brother Faisal as king when Faisal was assassinated in 1975. A moderate influence in Middle East politics and a relatively retiring man, he left much of the administration of the country to his half brother Fahd,

Tanzania: British protectorate: Khalīfa ibn Harūb became sultan in 1911. He was the leading Muslim prince in East Africa, and his moderating influence did much to steady Muslim opinion in that part of Africa at times of political crisis, especially during the two World Wars. He died on…

caliph, in Islamic history the ruler of the Muslim community. Although khalīfah and its plural khulafāʾ occur several times in the Qurʾān, referring to humans as God’s stewards or vice-regents on earth, the term did not denote a distinct political or religious institution during the lifetime of the

Qatar: Early history and British protectorate: …families from Kuwait, notably the Khalifah family. Their settlement at the new town of Al-Zubārah grew into a small pearl-diving and trade center. In 1783 the Khalifah family led the conquest of nearby Bahrain, where they remained the ruling family throughout the 20th century. Following the departure of the Khalifah…

Sheikh Hamad ibn ʿIsa Al Khalifah is the king of Bahrain from 2002, previously emir of Bahrain (1999–2002). Hamad became head of state as the emir of Bahrain after the death of his father, Sheikh ʿIsa ibn Salman Al Khalifah, and then proclaimed himself king in 2002. Hamad’s childhood was spent in

Ezion-geber, seaport of Solomon and the later kings of Judah, located at the northern end of the Gulf of Aqaba in what is now Maʿān muḥāfaẓah (governorate), Jordan. The site was found independently by archaeologists Fritz Frank and Nelson Glueck. Glueck’s excavations (1938–40) proved that the site

Gulf of Suez, northwestern arm of the Red Sea between Africa proper (west) and the Sinai Peninsula (east) of Egypt. The length of the gulf, from its mouth at the Strait of Jubal to its head at the city of Suez, is 195 miles (314 km), and it varies in width from 12 to 20 miles (19 to 32 km). The

Gulf of Aqaba, northeastern arm of the Red Sea, penetrating between Saudi Arabia and the Sinai Peninsula. It varies in width from 12 to 17 miles (19 to 27 km) and is 110 miles (177 km) long. The gulf lies in a pronounced cleft between hills rising abruptly to about 2,000 feet (600 metres).

Gulf of Gabes, inlet, on the east coast of Tunisia, northern Africa. It is 60 miles (100 km) long and 60 miles wide and is bounded by the Qarqannah (Kerkena) Islands on the northeast and by Jarbah (Djerba) Island on the southeast. Except for the Strait of Gibraltar and the Gulf of Venice, it is the

Gulf of Sidra, arm of the Mediterranean Sea, indenting the Libyan coast of northern Africa. It extends eastward for 275 mi (443 km) from Miṣrātah to Banghāzī. A highway links scattered oases along its shore, which is chiefly desert, with salt marshes. In August the gulf’s water temperature reaches

Persian Gulf, shallow marginal sea of the Indian Ocean that lies between the Arabian Peninsula and southwestern Iran. The sea has an area of about 93,000 square miles (241,000 square km). Its length is some 615 miles (990 km), and its width varies from a maximum of about 210 miles (340 km) to a