The word “oasis,” often used as a metaphor for a place of refuge, refers to a pool of water found in the desert. An oasis is formed where underground water flowing beneath the earth’s surface breaks through the ground. Large oasis often serve as the foundation for human settlements. In modern times, they are popular tourist destinations, admired for their beautiful landscapes. Let’s tour some of the world’s most stunning oasis.
Oman’s Wadi Bani Khalid
Many Middle Eastern countries boast beautiful oasis. A prime example is Wadi Bani Khalid in Oman, an absolute monarchy in the southeastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. Much of Oman is desert land. Wadi Bani Khalid is an oasis where water flows in from a natural spring upstream of the valley all year round. It’s a charming tourist spot where you can enjoy beautiful scenery no matter when you visit.
Peru’s Huacachina Oasis
The Huacachina Oasis in Peru is home to just over a hundred people and is the only desert oasis in South America. It’s a place of natural water and beautiful dunes, attracting foreign tourists and locals with its landscapes. Lately, the water is naturally drying up, and it is said that water levels are maintained by artificially supplying water continuously.
Brazil’s Lençóis Maranhenses National Park
The oasis in Maranhão, Brazil, is a national park designated by the government. It’s located on the outskirts of the Amazon basin, and between May and September, heavy rain creates numerous ponds and lakes. Seeing beautiful lakes filled with clear, blue water in the middle of the sand desert is genuinely spectacular. It’s also a habitat for the Kaete Indians, and you can see various species of migratory birds and turtles.
China’s Dunhuang Crescent Lake Oasis
Before early modern times, the Silk Road was the trade route that connected the Chinese mainland with Central Asia and the Mediterranean world of Europe. The Silk Road, a trade route that crosses the desert and passes through various cities, allows you to encounter a beautiful oasis. In Dunhuang City, China, you can find the Crescent Lake Oasis, a major stop on the Silk Road. It is said to have been named after its unique crescent-shaped lake.
UAE’s Liwa Oasis
The Liwa Oasis in the UAE is surrounded by a town and farms that harbor Saudi Arabia’s Rub’ al Khali. It’s also the birthplace of the Al Nahyan and Al Maktoum families who rule the UAE, making it a special place for locals. It’s located about 93 miles southwest of Abu Dhabi, and a large farm growing date palms is currently located. It’s also the northernmost part of the Rub’ al Khali desert, which stretches nearly 62 miles east to west in a curved shape like an arc.
Egypt’s Siwa Oasis
The Siwa Oasis in Egypt is a place where olive trees and palm trees are densely planted, and numerous springs create beautiful scenery. It is about 31 miles from the Libyan border and features unique and extraordinary landscapes, such as small villages with mud-brick houses and donkey carts crossing dirt roads. Visitors to this place range from Alexander the Great to Erwin Rommel.
Morocco’s Tafilalt
Morocco, located in the northwestern Maghreb region of Africa, has a unique environment where you can experience fertile land and the Sahara desert, as it borders the Mediterranean Sea. The largest oasis in Morocco is Tafilalt, located along the edge of the Sahara desert in the west, following the Ziz River. Around this place, you can see several villages that have served as fortresses for centuries. The sweet dates from the oasis palm trees are famous.
Tunisia’s Chebika Oasis
The oasis at the foot of the Jebel el Negev mountain in Tunisia is known as “Ksar el-Shams,” which means “Island of the Sun” in Arabic. Against the backdrop of desolate mountains, the patchy palm trees create a unique landscape. Many scenes from the first Star Wars, the fourth story in the entire series, Star Wars Episode IV (1977), were filmed here. It’s considered a must-visit destination on a trip to Tunisia.
Arizona’s Havasu Oasis, USA
In the Havasu Canyon of Arizona, USA, you can find an oasis that offers picturesque views created by the Havasu Waterfall. Thanks to the limestone on the floor reflecting the sky’s color, the water in the oasis has a stunningly beautiful blue hue. It’s an oasis where you can enjoy sunlight for over 300 days a year, and it is visited by nearly 800,000 visitors every year. It’s considered the most spectacular view in the Grand Canyon.
Libya’s Umm Al Maa
In Libya, an Arab country in North Africa bordering the Mediterranean Sea, there is an oasis named Umm Al Maa, which means “Mother of Water” in Arabic. It forms a long lake near the Ubari sand sea and is surrounded by various plants. The water here is mainly known for its high salt content. In addition to Umm Al Maa, Libya, you can find many unique lakes and oasis with diverse landscapes.
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