Makran facts for kids

Makran (Urdu: مکران) is a coastal area that is partly a desert. It is found in the southern parts of Balochistan, a region in both Iran and Pakistan. It stretches along the coast of the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman. The name 'Makran' might come from the Persian words Mahi khoran, which means 'fish-eaters.' ('Mahi' means fish, and 'khor' means eat).

Map showing the Makran region

The flat coastal land quickly turns into tall mountain ranges. Its coastline is about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) long. About 750 km (466 miles) of this is in Pakistan. The weather here is very dry, with hardly any rain.

History of Makran

Historically, Makran was a very large area. Ancient texts in Persian and Arabic describe it stretching from the Strait of Hormuz all the way to the Indus River. Some even say it reached the Gujarat region. The sea in this area was also known as the Makran Sea.

The name Makran might be linked to older names like Magan or Maka from ancient Persian times. Until the early Islamic period, the eastern part of Makran was likely influenced by Indian religions and culture.

Famous Travelers in Makran

In 1290, the famous traveler Marco Polo sailed along the Makran coast. He called it KisMacoran, which meant Tiz Makran. He thought it was the last province of India and noted it had its own ruler.

In the early 1300s, another well-known traveler, Ibn Battuta, wrote about Makran. He recorded that after the death of the Il-Khanid sultan (around 1335), a person named Malek Dinar took control of Makran.

Baluch Tribes and Boundaries

During these centuries, Baluch tribes moved into Makran from Persia. They settled there, which is why most people in Makran today speak the Baluch language.

Later, in 1870-72, a special group called the Anglo-Persian Boundary Commission marked the border. This border separated the Persian part of Makran from the part that belonged to British India. After 1947, this eastern part became part of Pakistan.

Images for kids

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  The central Makran range in Pakistan and Iran

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  Parthian version of the Shapur I inscription at Ka'ba-ye Zartosht.

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  Paths that Alexander the Great took

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  Central Makran range

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  Map of the Baluchistan Agency

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  Makran.makoran pars1744 Amesterdam

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  Gwadar beach in Makran region. Today, many people in Makran earn a living from the ocean.

See also

In Spanish: Makrán para niños