Name: Lesser Tonb Island, Jazireye Tonbe Kucak in Persian.
Province: Hormozgân , southern Iran
Island Population: None
Transportation: Boats from Bandare Abâs, Bandare Lenge and Qešm island.
Map: Click here
The island of Lesser Tonb is situated ca. 50 km from Bandare Lenge and 12 km from the island of Great Tonb, in the Persian Gulf.
This island is located between latitudes 26- 14' and 26- 15' N. and longitudes 55- 8' and 55- 10' E and is a part of Abu Musá sub-province (one of six islands in Abu Musá Island Group) and Hormozgán province in Iran. Dark in color and almost triangular in shape, Lesser Tonb is about 2 kilometers from northwest to southeast, and 1.5 kilometers across in the south; it rises to a maximum height of 36 meters.
There ares patches of saltworts; their prickly leaves though are no match for the bite of the venomous snakes that infest the island. The reptiles share this desolate homestead with seabirds, to whom the islet is a favorable breeding place. Lesser Tonb has a variety of beaches reached on foot .Ther is no drinking water on this island.
There is no habitation on this island. It is not known to have ever been inhabited, at least on a permanent basis.
Tonb means “hill” in Persian dialect in Southern Iran. An early evidence of the use of tonb is found in Istakhri's 10th century description of the Ardešir Kure district of Fars. The mound-like appearance of the Tonb Islands is no doubt responsible for the origin of Tonb.
