Musandam is a mountainous Oman Peninsula stretching out into the Strait of Hormuz, the United Arab Emirates separates from the rest of Oman. Its uneven coastline has fjord-like entrances and its waters are home to dolphins and other marine life. The sloop is a popular activity. Hayseb is the capital of the local Musandeem Peninsula, located on the south bank of the Strait of Hormuz, at the mouth of the Persian Gulf. It was built by the Portuguese in the 17th century on a natural port to avoid the waves. The area, also known as the "Norway of the Arabian Peninsula", is due to its rugged, glacier-like coastline, its towering mountains and clear, bright fjords.