The southern province of Dhofar is also dominated by a range of coastal mountains known as the Jebel Dhofar. The Jebel Dhofar reaches 5500 feet and helps to capture valuable moisture during the summer monsoon season, which impacts only the southern region. The shape of the mountains in the south is quite different to those in the north. During the summer monsoon the southern mountains turn green with vegetation whose roots help delay the effects of erosion resulting in a soft rolling landscape more akin to central Africa than the Middle East. As in the north, a narrow fertile coast plain lies between the jebel and the sea at whose center the southern capital of Salalah lies, surrounded by lush vegetable farms and coconut groves.
Muscat has the best natural harbor along the coast and is the capital of Oman.
Many of its buildings date from the 16th century when Portugal occupied this section of Arabia. The old town is still surrounded by its ancient city walls which totally encircle the Sultan's palace. Muscat is very small by modern standards, its commercial heart having moved west to the adjacent towns of Muttrah and Ruwi. Lying to the south of the Jebel Akhdar at the start of the great desert plain which dominates much of Oman, Nizwa was the ancient capital of the interior. Today much of the old city's charms remains, with the 17th century tower fort dominating the center of town.