Taiz () is a governorate of Yemen. Its capital Taiz, the third-largest city in Yemen, is among the most important commercial centres in the country, owing to its proximity to farmland, the Red Sea port of Mokha and Taiz International Airport.
Geography Taiz Governorate has an extraordinarily diverse geography. The western half is part of the Tihamah coastal plain and has an exceedingly hot, humid and arid climate. The eastern half is very mountainous, with the major peak being 3,070-metre-high Jabal Sabir, near Taiz city. These mountains trap the moisture created by an upper-level wind reversal between April and October, so that annual rainfall increases from 200 millimetres (8 inches) in the foothills to more than 1,000 millimetres (40 inches) near Jebel Saber. Temperatures in the highlands remain high during the daytime, but at the highest elevations they can fall to -5 °C (23 °F) overnight.
Mountain ranges
The governorate has many mountains ranging in height from 1,000 to 3,200 metres. The most important mountains are Jabal Sabir, Jabal Habashi, Jabal Samaʿa, Jabal Qadas, Jabal As-Silw, the mountains of al-Wazi'iyah and the Mountains of Shar'ab and Maqbanah.
Streams There are many streams (wadi ), perennial and seasonal:
Perennial streams Wadi Rasian, in Mawza, Shara'b Ar Rawnah, al-Makha and Maqbanah. Wadi Warzan, in Khadir and al-Mawasit. Wadi al-Dhabab, in al-Mawasit and Hayfan. Wadi Ar-Ram, in al-Mafalis region, Hayfan. Wadi al-Dhabab, in Sabir al-Mawadim. Wadi al-Ashroh or Wadi al-Barakani, in al-Mawasit. Wadi al-Janah, in al-Wazi'iyah. Wadi al-Lahya, in Mawza.
Seasonal streams Streams that only run in the wet season are:
+DistrictsSeasonal streamsDamnt KhadirWadi al-ShofiahMawaiahWadi al-Sudan, Wadi al-Gharman, Wadi al-SawarihAs-SilwWadi Qoradah, Wadi al-Zubirah, Wadi al-QatriahHayfanWadi al-Musali, Wadi Khawalah, Wadi ShawkahAsh-ShamayataynWadi AdimShar'ab Ar-RawnahWadi Gaw'ah, Wadi al-Ma', Wadi ShamlahShar'ab As-SalamWadi al-fojeer, Wadi al-Habab, Wadi Hawsa', Wadi NakhlahJabal HabashiWadi Hannahal-MakhaWadi Tanag, Wadi Kabir, Wadi HathiahAt-Ta'iziyahWadi HabanSabir al-MawadimWadi Sailat HawasAl-wazyiahWadi al-Makhshab, Wadi al-Mu'aqam, Wadi Hawlajah, Wadi SumadahMawzaWadi Janob, Wadi al-Gharafi, Wadi al-Majash, Wadi Hagharamah, Wadi al-Murra, Wadi Sha'bo
Adjacent governorates Al Hudaydah Governorate (north) Ibb Governorate (north) Dhale Governorate (northeast) Lahij Governorate (southeast)
Districts
Taiz Governorate is divided into 23 districts, each divided into sub-districts, and then into villages:
Al Mukha District Al Ma'afer District Al Mawasit District Al Misrakh District Al Mudhaffar District Al Qahirah District Al Wazi'iyah District As Silw District Ash Shamayatayn District At Ta'iziyah District Dhubab District Dimnat Khadir District Hayfan District Jabal Habashy District Maqbanah District Mashra'a Wa Hadnan District Mawiyah District Mawza District Sabir Al Mawadim District Salh District Sama District Shara'b Ar Rawnah District Shara'b As Salam District
Economy In the Tihamah region, irrigated crops include cotton, sorghum and sesame. Mangoes, papayas and bananas are the major crops of the western escarpment, and further up coffee and khat are grown. Although wine is prohibited in Islam, grapes are grown to produce raisins.
Wildlife The most common wild animals are hyenas, rock hyrax, rabbits, hedgehog, and monkeys. The most common wild birds are vultures, falcons, partridges, owls, pigeons, hoopoes, bulbuls.
Regions
Shamir: () also called "Shamir Maqbanah". It is a mountainous region part of Maqbanah district. Al-Hugariyyah: () It is the largest region in Taiz governorate. It is sometimes mistakenly called al-Hujariah district. The region is part of As-Silw, al-Ma'afer, Hayfan, Sama', al-Mawasit, Jabal Habashy, Dimnat Khadir, and al-Wazi'iyah districts.
Islands Perim Jazirat Ziadi
Notable people Mohsen Ayed, journalist and author
References
External links
Official site of the taiz governate