Gulf of Salwah

[1] The surface of the land surrounding the Gulf of Salwah is largely flat, covered with sand or pebbles.

On the east side, there are sand dunes and salt flats at the southern end and low cliffs and hills further north on the west coast of Qatar, and this is the area where the main oilfields are located.

[2] On the west side of the Gulf the coast is sandy with high groundwater levels supporting extensive reed beds.

There are shallow hypersaline lagoons, and low islands have appeared along the shore caused by changes of water level.

[3] The high salinity level of the Gulf of Salwah prevents growth of most corals, perforate foraminifera, scallops and gastropod molluscs such as Strombus, Xenophora and Conus.