Astola Island, also known as Jezira Haft Talar or ‘island of the seven hills’, is a small, uninhabited island in the Arabian Sea, in the territorial waters of Pakistan, some 25 km south of Pakistan’s nearest coastline and 39 km south-east of the Pakistani fishing port of Pasni. Astola is Pakistan’s largest offshore island and the only significant offshore island in the northern Arabian Sea. Administratively, the island is part of the Pasni sub-districtof Gwadar District in Balochistan province.
Astola Island lies in the northern tip of the Arabian Sea, approximately 25 km south of Pakistan’s Makran Coastline and approximately 39 km southeast of the Pakistani fishing port of Pasni. It is also the northernmost island of the Arabian Sea.
The island is approximately 4 km in length with a maximum width of 1 km. Its highest point is 246 feet above sea level.
The island comprises of a large tilted plateau and a series of seven small hillocks (hence the local name “Haft Talar” or “Seven Hills”), with deep chasms and crevices, which are several feet wide.There are several natural caves and coves on the island. The south face of the island slopes off gradually whereas the north face is cliff-like with a sharp vertical drop.
The isolated location of the island has helped maintain endemic life forms. The endangered Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) and the Hawks-bill turtle (Eretmochelys imbracata) nest on the beach at the foot of the cliffs. The island is also a very important area for endemic reptiles such as the Astola Viper (Echis carinatus astolae). The island is reported to support a large number of breeding water birds including coursers, curlews, godwits, gulls, plovers and sanderlings. Feral cats, originally introduced by fishermen to control the endemic rodent population, pose an increasing threat to wildlife breeding sites.
Astola Island is a popular but “hard” destination for eco-tourism, although there are no lodging facilities on the island. Overnight tourists must camp on the island and bring their own provisions. Camping, fishing and scuba-diving expeditions are popular. It is also a site for observing turtle breeding.
In 1982, the Government of Pakistan installed a small gas-powered beacon on the island for the safety of passing vessels, which, in 1987, was replaced by a solar-powered one.
There is a small mosque dedicated to the Muslim saint, Khawaja Khizr, which is used by the mainland fishermen during the fishing season.Between September and May of each year, Astola becomes a temporary base for mainland fishermen for catching lobsters and oysters. From June to August, the island remains uninhabited due to the fishing off-season, the rough seas and high tides.
Ruins of an ancient Hindu temple of the Hindu goddess, Kali are located on the island. The island was also known to the Hindus as Satadip.
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