Bu Maher Fort, Fort in Muharraq Governorate, Bahrain
Bu Maher Fort, also known as Qal'at Bu Mahir, is a historic fort at the southern tip of Muharraq Island in Bahrain. It was originally built with four towers and thick walls, of which the southern tower and a section of the attached wall are still standing today.
The earliest known image of the fort appears on a map from 1635, though the structure visible today dates largely from 1840. In 1868, British naval forces attacked the fort and destroyed much of it, ending its military role.
Bu Maher Fort is part of the Pearling Path, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that traces the story of pearl diving in the region. During the pearling season, the fort served as a viewing point where locals gathered to watch their dhows set off and return from the sea.
The fort is accessed through a nearby visitor center that offers a display on the history of the pearling houses. Direct access to the fort currently requires a boat ride from the harbor of the National Museum, so it is worth checking current conditions before visiting.
Archaeologists have found remains of additional towers and wall sections buried in the ground around the site, suggesting the original structure was much larger than what stands today. The fort also guarded a freshwater spring located in the sea nearby, making it a place of rare strategic value.
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