Springing up from arid deserts and desolate, isolated locations, oases have been vital in providing life and sustenance to all forms of creatures, animals and humans alike since ancient times. Here are 10 of the most incredible and magnificent oases in the world
Bahariya OasisEl-Waha, el-Bahariya, or Bahariya (meaning the “northern oasis”) is an oasis in Egypt about 300 miles (500 kilometers) from Cairo, set in the lowest point in Egypt in a depression covering over 1250 sq. miles (2000 sq. kilometers), and the least technologically advanced Oasis in the country
The Bahariya Oasis and much of today’s Libyan Desert was once the floor of an immense ocean, but since approximately 3,000 BC to now, very little rainfall graces the area, so groundwater is its life blood.
Most of the villages and cultivated land can be seen from the top of the 165 foot (50 meter) high Jebel al-Mi’ysrah, along with the massive dunes which threaten to engulf some of the older settlements
Bawiti is the largest village in the oasis and the administrative center with its picturesque hillside quarter overlooking lush palm groves irrigated by the Ain al-Beshmo — a natural spring carved from the rock in Roman times which gushes water at 90 degrees F (30 C). Qasr is Bawiti’s neighboring twin village, and the near-by village of al-Qast was built on the remains of a 26th dynasty temple at Qarat Hilwah where you can still see tombs with paintings dating from the same period.
To the east, about 6 miles (10 kilometers) away are the villages of Mandishah and el Zabu. A smaller village called Aguz lies between Bawiti and Mandishah. Harrah, the eastern most village, is a few kilometers east of Mandishah and el Zabu.
To the east, about 6 miles (10 kilometers) away are the villages of Mandishah and el Zabu. A smaller village called Aguz lies between Bawiti and Mandishah. Harrah, the eastern most village, is a few kilometers east of Mandishah and el Zabu.
The ruins of a temple to Alexander the Great is located within the Bahariya Oasis where it’s believed by some Egyptologists that the Greek conqueror passed through Bahariya while returning from the oracle of Ammon at Siwa Oasis. Excavations of the Greco-Roman necropolis — known as the Valley of the Golden Mummies — began in 1996 with about 34 tombs that have been excavated from the area
The local Wahati people are the descendants of the ancient people who inhabited the oasis, Bedouin tribes from Libiya and the north coast, and other people from the Nile Valley who came to settle in the oasis
The local Wahati people are the descendants of the ancient people who inhabited the oasis, Bedouin tribes from Libiya and the north coast, and other people from the Nile Valley who came to settle in the oasis
The White Desert of Egypt is located 28 miles (45 kilometers) north of Farafra. The desert has a white, cream color and is inundated with massive sparkling white chalk rock formations created as a result of sandstorms.
The main settlement is Qasr Farafra, with about 5,000 inhabitants living within its single village. Areas of the village have complete quarters of traditional architecture, simple, smooth, unadorned, and all in mud color.
The main settlement is Qasr Farafra, with about 5,000 inhabitants living within its single village. Areas of the village have complete quarters of traditional architecture, simple, smooth, unadorned, and all in mud color.
The oldest identified settlements go back to Roman times, with indications to have been part of ancient Libya rather than the Ancient Egyptian culture and civilization.
There are several hot springs near Farafra including Bir Setta, and even a small lake named El-Mufid lake
There are several hot springs near Farafra including Bir Setta, and even a small lake named El-Mufid lake
Ein Gedi OasisEin Gedi is an oasis located west of the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, some 400 m. below sea level, close to Masada and the caves of Qumran in the West Bank, and known for its springs and rich diversity of flora and fauna. It has an internationally acclaimed botanical garden covering an area of 24.7 acres with more than 900 species of plants from all over the world.
Ein Gedi is mentioned several times in biblical writings, such as the Song of Songs. According to Jewish tradition, David hid from Saul in the caves here. Book of Joshua enumerates Ein Gedi among the cities of the Tribe of Judah in the desert Betharaba, but the Book of Ezekiel shows that it was also a fisherman’s town.
A kibbutz, founded in 1956, is located about a kilometer from the oasis that offers various tourist attractions and takes advantage of the abundance of natural water to cultivate produce. Prior to the founding of the kibbutz, the Ein Gedi area had not been permanently inhabited for 500 years
A kibbutz, founded in 1956, is located about a kilometer from the oasis that offers various tourist attractions and takes advantage of the abundance of natural water to cultivate produce. Prior to the founding of the kibbutz, the Ein Gedi area had not been permanently inhabited for 500 years
The indigenous Jewish town of Ein Gedi was a major source of balsam for the Greco-Roman world until its destruction by Byzantine emperor Justinian as part of his persecution of the Jews in his realm. A beautiful synagogue mosaic still remains, including a Judeo-Aramaic inscription warning inhabitants against “revealing the town’s secret” to the outside world — the methods for extraction and preparation of the much-prized balsam resin.
Between the 13th century and the Israeli War of Independence, Ein Gedi was inhabited at various times by both Jews and Bedouin Arabs.
In April 1848, Lieutenant William Francis Lynch led an American expedition down the Jordan River into the Dead Sea and renamed it George Washington Spring.
Between the 13th century and the Israeli War of Independence, Ein Gedi was inhabited at various times by both Jews and Bedouin Arabs.
In April 1848, Lieutenant William Francis Lynch led an American expedition down the Jordan River into the Dead Sea and renamed it George Washington Spring.
Ein Gedi National Park is one of the most important reserves in Israel, situated on the eastern border of the Judean Desert on the Dead Sea coast, covering an area of 6,250 acres, which was founded in 1972. The elevation of the land ranges from the level of the Dead Sea at 1,371 feet 418 meters) below sea level to the plateau of the Judean Desert at 655 feet (200 meters) above sea level.
The National Park has 2 spring-fed streams with flowing water year-round — Nachal David (David Stream) and Nachal Arugot (Arugot Stream), as well as 2 other springs, the Shulamit and Ein Gedi springs. Together the springs generate about 3,000,000 cubic meters of water a year which is used for agriculture and bottled for consumption.
The park is a sanctuary for many types of plant, bird and animal species. The many species of resident birds are supplemented by over 200 additional species during the migration periods in the spring and fall.
The National Park has 2 spring-fed streams with flowing water year-round — Nachal David (David Stream) and Nachal Arugot (Arugot Stream), as well as 2 other springs, the Shulamit and Ein Gedi springs. Together the springs generate about 3,000,000 cubic meters of water a year which is used for agriculture and bottled for consumption.
The park is a sanctuary for many types of plant, bird and animal species. The many species of resident birds are supplemented by over 200 additional species during the migration periods in the spring and fall.
Al-Hasa OasisFamed for being the largest groundwater-fed oasis in the world and possibly the most fascinating, the Al-Hasa oasis has been inhabited since ancient times, being the only water source in a vast arid region, located 40 miles (65 kilometers) inland from the Persian Gulf, with a surface of roughly 75 sq. miles (120 sq. kilometers).
In ancient times, Al-Hasa was at the center of the trade routes which traders followed between the east of the Arabian peninsula and India, Persia and the Far East.
The Oasis has a dry tropical climate, with a 5-month summer and relatively cold winter, enjoying the benefits of copious reserves of underground water.
The wind carries and deposits tons of sand over the land, so the Kingdom has planted large barriers of trees to prevent the wind-borne sand from damaging inhabited and agricultural areas, which also adds a bit more shade and coolness.
The Al-Hasa region derives its name from the oasis at its center, stretching north to Kuwait, out to the Persian Gulf, ending in the south with the Rub al-Khali — the Empty Quarter — and the ad-Dahna desert in the west. The region has an estimated population of 3.4 million, which accounts for more than 95% of the total population of the Eastern Province
The Oasis has a dry tropical climate, with a 5-month summer and relatively cold winter, enjoying the benefits of copious reserves of underground water.
The wind carries and deposits tons of sand over the land, so the Kingdom has planted large barriers of trees to prevent the wind-borne sand from damaging inhabited and agricultural areas, which also adds a bit more shade and coolness.
The Al-Hasa region derives its name from the oasis at its center, stretching north to Kuwait, out to the Persian Gulf, ending in the south with the Rub al-Khali — the Empty Quarter — and the ad-Dahna desert in the west. The region has an estimated population of 3.4 million, which accounts for more than 95% of the total population of the Eastern Province
There are about 50 traditional Arabian villages spread around the oasis.
Al-Hasa is part of the region known historically as Al-Bahrayn, which included the eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula down to the borders of Oman, and also included the island of Awal, modern-day Bahrain.
The main cities of Al-Hasa region are Dammam out on the coast — a new, modern urban area thriving from the oil industry — Hofuf which is the chief town administrated as the Eastern Province, and Mubarraz which lies north of Al-Hasa Oasis
Al-Hasa is part of the region known historically as Al-Bahrayn, which included the eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula down to the borders of Oman, and also included the island of Awal, modern-day Bahrain.
The main cities of Al-Hasa region are Dammam out on the coast — a new, modern urban area thriving from the oil industry — Hofuf which is the chief town administrated as the Eastern Province, and Mubarraz which lies north of Al-Hasa Oasis
The region is the home of some of the richest oil fields in the world. In 1938, petroleum deposits were discovered near Dammam, resulting in rapid modernization of the region, and by the early 1960’s, production levels reached 1,000,000 barrels a day.
One of the region’s few strategic and economic prizes prior to the oil era, Al-Hasa has been controlled from Al-Hufuf in the past 2 centuries by Ottomans, Egyptians, the Bani Khalid tribe, and the Al Saud family
One of the region’s few strategic and economic prizes prior to the oil era, Al-Hasa has been controlled from Al-Hufuf in the past 2 centuries by Ottomans, Egyptians, the Bani Khalid tribe, and the Al Saud family
Huacachina OasisCalled the “oasis of America,” Huacachina is a little town built around a small lake in the desert in the Ica Region in southwestern Peru, located in the Ica Province near the city of Ica in the Ica District with a whopping population of 115 in 1999.
Legend has it that the lagoon was created when a beautiful native princess was apprehended at her bath by a young hunter. She fled, leaving the pool of water she had been bathing in to become the lagoon. The folds of her mantle streaming behind her as she ran became the surrounding sand dunes, and she’s said to still live in the oasis as a mermaid
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