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The capital city of Muscat in Oman is the largest city in the Sultanate of Oman. The greater metropolitan area of Muscat covers an area of approx 1500 km 2 . It is locally know as the 'Capital Area'. Since the inception of modernization in 1970, there has been a constant development and expansion in Muscat. Muscat is situated on the coastal plain of Oman. The Geography of Muscat is largely influenced by the coastal region which runs from As Sib to Ras al Hadd and is about 175 km long. It is barren and bounded by cliffs almost entirely along the length of the coastline. The coastal plain is up to 19 km wide. The hills are mostly unfertile but the plateau is arable where oases are present. The exception is the extreme southwestern province of Dhofar, which is fertile during rainy season. The water along the coast runs deep and there are two natural harbours, the Muscat and Matrah. The Climate of Muscat is extremely hot and dry most of the year. Summer starts in mid- April and goes till October. The average temperature in Muscat is 33 0 C. Due to its low elevation, it is very humid in summer with humidity going up to 90 percent. The winter is pleasantly warm during the months of October to March with temperature ranging from 15 0C to 23 0 C. For Sight seeing in Muscat , the best time to visit is from December to March. The temperatures are moderate and pleasant, making it easy to travel around. The population of Muscat Oman is mostly Arab with the exception of migrant workers, mostly Indians and Pakistanis, who comprise half of the salaried workforce. The Alluvial soils are washed down from the mountains into the coastal plane, making the soil very fertile which is of great importance to the Geography of Muscat . Grapes and apricots are widely grown. Coconuts are grown along the coastal plain. Shrubs, grasses, hardy trees grow naturally in many places.. Muscat is home to some of the richest fishing areas in the whole world, which are found along the coast. Tuna and Sardines are the main catches. Goats, some cattle and camels are raised in Muscat. Lizards, snakes scorpions and different birds can be seen. Government of Oman has made laws to protect plant and animal lives. There is a scheme to give protection to coastal areas and a number of natural preserves throughout the country. It has also made arrangements for breeding the rare Arabian oryx for release into the wild. On the easternmost side of the Arabian peninsula, an area has been set aside which is protected for breding giant sea turtles. The Government of Oman is making every effort to keep the Geography of Muscat protected from any calamities, natural or man-made.
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