Makran is the southern region of Balochistan, in Iran and Pakistan along the coast of the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman. Major Ethnic Groups in Pakistan and surrounding areas, 1980. ... Map of the Arabian Sea. ... The Gulf of Oman is a strait that connects the Arabian Sea with the Persian Gulf. ...

The narrow coastal plain rises very rapidly into several mountain ranges. The area possesses a very dry climate with very low rainfall. Makran is very sparsely inhabited, with much of the population being concentrated in a string of small ports including Chah Bahar, Gwatar, Jiwani, Gwadar (not to be confused with Gwatar), Pasni, Ormara and many smaller fishing villages. The total length of the coastline is about 1,000 km (of which 750 km is in Pakistan). Jiwani is the most southwesterly city of Pakistan, on the Makran coast near the Iranian border. ... Gwadar is a coastal town located in the province of Balochistan in Pakistan. ... Pasni is a celebration in Nepal in which an infant is first fed rice. ...

The Pakistani government is currently developing Ormara as a major new naval base and Gwadar as a major new commercial port as well as a new highway along the entire length of the coast. These projects have been prompted by the commercial and military bottleneck at Karachi. The new naval base at Ormara will host about half of the Pakistani Navy, whilst Gwadar is planned to reduce the pressure on the two international ports at Karachi.

The Iranian government did plan to develop Chah Bahar in the 1970's, but the toppling of the Shah put an end to those plans.

One of the earliest historical references to the area is the crossing by the army of Alexander the Great during its return from India, as recorded in the journals of Nearchos. According to Nearchos, Alexander had wanted to surpass the achievements of Queen Semiramis and Cyrus the Great, whose attempts to cross the desert with armies had ended in disaster. However it has also been suggested it was necessary to take this route to travel in support of the Greek fleet. According to Plutarch, only one quarter of the Alexander's army survived the journey. Alexander the Great fighting the Persian king Darius (Pompeii mosaic, from a 3rd century BC original Greek painting, now lost). ... Nearchus (or Nearchos) was one of the officers in the army of Alexander the Great. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Cyrus the Great Cyrus II of Persia, widely known as Cyrus the Great, (ca. ... Plutarch Mestrius Plutarch (cz. ...

From the 15th century onward, the area was ruled by indigenous Zikri families and sometimes by the Iranian government. In the late 18th century, the Khan of Kalat is said to have granted sanctuary at Gwadar to one of the claimants for the throne of Muscat. When that claimant became sultan, he kept hold of Gwadar, installing a governor, who eventually led an army to conquer the city of Chah Bahar some 200 kilometres to the west. (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ... Zikri is a small Islamic sect that is concentrated in Balochistan. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... Fort Jalali, Muscat Classification City Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said Area 3,500 km² [1] Population  - Total (2005)  - Density  - Oman calculated rank 646,024 [2] 184. ...

The sultanate held onto the Makran coast throughout the period of British pre-eminence in India, but eventually only Gwadar was left in the hands of the sultan. On the formation of Pakistan, Makran became a district within the province of Balochistan, minus an area 800 km² around Gwadar. The enclave was finally transferred in 1958 to Pakistani control as part of the district of Makran. The entire region has been subdivided into new smaller districts over the years.

The coast of Makran posseses only one minor island (Astola, near Pasni) and several insignificant islets. The coastline can be divided into a eastern lagoon coastline and a western embayed coastline. The main lagoons are Miani Hor and Kalamat Hor. The main bays of the embayed coast are Gwadar West Bay and Gwatar Bay. This latter bay shelters a large mangrove forest and the nesting grounds of endangered turtle species.

For music of Makran, see the fine recording issued by the International Music Collection of the British Library National Sound Archive.

External links

• Balochistan and Makran, Pakistan
• Makran Coastal Highway Project
• Alexander and the Makran Desert