Balhaf-Burum Natural Reserve

The Balhaf/Burum Natural Reserve is an outstanding natural and cultural coastal landscape located along the Arabian Sea in Shabwah and Hadhramaut governorates, Yemen. The Balhaf–Bir Ali sector forms a nationally significant coastal nature reserve distinguished by an extensive volcanic field dating to the Holocene epoch.
Its most remarkable feature is Shu‘ran volcanic lake, a rare circular crater lake approximately 1.35 km in diameter and about 220 meters above sea level, containing unique waters unlike other volcanic craters in the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea region.
The surrounding environment includes mangrove forests (Avicennia marina), sand dunes, palm groves, and diverse coastal habitats supporting marine and bird life. About 3 km east of Bir Ali town, the volcanic formations represent important geological heritage and exceptional scenic value.
The Burum sector, overlooking the Gulf of Mukalla in Hadhramaut, is a traditional fishing settlement and an important ecological stopover for migratory birds traveling between Africa and Asia. Together, the two areas illustrate the interaction between volcanic geology, coastal ecosystems, maritime livelihood traditions, and migratory wildlife routes, giving the property combined natural and cultural significance.

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Balhaf-Burum Natural Reserve was submitted in 2025 to the UNESCO Tentative List in Yemen.