Bin Ghannam Island – also known as Al Khor Island or Purple Island – has an area of 3.9 mi² (10 km²). It is located on the eastern coast of Qatar within the Khor Al Shaqiq Bay. Unlike the many man-made islands along the coast, Bin Ghannam is a natural island with a rich biological and cultural heritage. Accessible by kayak from Al Khor, it is known for the mangroves that line its shallow lagoons. There are more than fifty species of vegetation on the island, which are home to many migratory birds – flamingos, egrets, herons – during the winter. On its shores also lives a sea snail, a murex (Thais savignyi) of the Muricidae family, which produces purple, a purplish-red dye used in antiquity and adopted by the current flag of Qatar.