Oasis
Oceans of golden dunes, moonscapes with bizarre rock formations and endless
kilometres of rocky plains make up the Western Desert. An extension of the Sahara,
it is neither one single landscape nor easily accessible. The Western Desert is dotted
with five oases, lying like islands in the ocean – Siwa, Baharia, Farafra, Dakhla and
Kharga. These are linked by a thousand-kilometre trail tracing a zigzag across the
map.
New Valley
The New Valley Oasis is one of the largest governorate in Egypt and the African
continent. located south west of Egypt and extends between the Nile Valley and the
Libyan boarder. The New Valley Oasis occupies 65% of the Western Desert and
45.8% of the total area of Egypt. Its capital is Kharga Oasis and includes other oasis
such as Dakhla, Farafra and Baris Oasis. The New Valley or Al Wady Al Jadid is the
least populated governorate in Egypt has the lowest population density. The climate
in the Oasis is dry with low humidity. The several hot Sulpher springs located there
makes it a favorable destination for curative treatments from skin diseases as well as
rheumatic and digestive ailments. The springs and the warm sunny climate all
through the year makes the Oasis a favorable international health spa.
Kharga Oasis
Kharga Oasis is located in the south-western part of Egypt in the Libyan Desert. This
oasis is one of the most developed in the Western Desert; it has a population of
approximately 100,000 inhabitants, most of whom are descendants of an ancient
nomadic tribe.
Kharga has not seen any rain in 20 years. Its climate is similar to that of the rest of
the desert region in Egypt hot summers and mild winters. Nights are pleasant even
during summers, while in winters, nights can get quite chilly.
A caravan route, known as the 40 Days Road, connecting Sudan and Egypt, used to
pass through this region. It was a popular route for traders and merchants, and thus,
the region flourished. The Romans built a chain of fortresses to protect Kharga from
invaders.
"Al Waha al Kharga" is the capital of the New Valley governorate, it is the
southernmost of Egypt’s oases and it is located 200 km of the Nile valley and 232
km. south of Assyut. It is characterized by its numerous monuments, springs and
tourist sites such as the ponds of fish in Bulaq Village. The area enjoys a mixture of
desert environment next to green plains, wells of fresh water and springs of mineral
water, suitable for the treatment of rheumatic and digestive ailments, colds and
allergies. The oases are famous for their dry climate, humidity never exceeds 9.5%.
As other oases, Kharga was a crossroad of caravan routes crossing the barren
desert. This is evident in the presence of fortresses such as Darb el Arbaien which
was constructed to protect the caravans crossing the western desert to Sudan. Most
of the sites in the Oasis are well preserved. Nowadays the Oasis is linked with other
Egyptian governorates with a well functioning road networks. The New Valley airport
is located in El Kharga oasis. Although of numerous developments only 150,000
people reside in Kharga with a population density of 0.004% per sq. km.
The Temple of Hibis
The temple is situated two km north of the town of Kharga. The structure, dedicated
to god Amun, was built by the Persian emperor Darius I in the 6th century BC. is one
of the largest and best examples of Persian architecture in the country; the carvings
on the walls have been well preserved.
Cemetery of Al-Bagawat
One km away from the temple of Hibis. Most of the several hundred mud brick tombs
in this Christian cemetery date back to the 4th and 6th century AD. the Necropolis of
al-Bagawat contains 263 mud-brick chapels with Coptic murals, including the Chapel
of Peace with images of Adam and Eve and the Ark on its dome and the Chapel of
the Exodus with frescoes of pharaonic troops pursuing the Jews, led by Moses, out
of Egypt.
Temple of Al-Ghuwaytah
About 20 km south of Kharga and a few km to the east of the Paris road, are the
remains of Al-Ghuwaytah, a temple from the 25th dynasty, dedicated to the gods
Amun and Mut. The temple stands on a round hilltop surrounded by fortified villages.
Ed Deir
Ed Deir is one of the many fortresses in the oasis consisting of many towers joint by
galleries; some of the graffiti on its walls is many centuries old.
Qasr el Labeka
Qasr el Labeka are deep into the desert and are accessed by crossing several hills of
sand dunes.
Springs of Bulaq and Nasser
The thermal springs at Bulaq and Nasser villages, to the south, are famous for water
temperatures of up to 43° C and reputed to be suitable for the treatment of
rheumatism and allergies.
Dakhla Oasis
Dakhla Oasis is one of the oases in the Western Desert region of Egypt. It is situated
more than 100 m above sea level and numerous springs and ponds form a part of its
topography.
Western Desert enjoys a fairly moderate climate with very chilly winters, while
summer temperatures may rise as high as 50°C.
More than 4,000 years ago, this was a flourishing region having access to three
important caravan routes linking it to various parts of Egypt.
Today, most of its population consists of farmers.
Phosphate mines in the neighbourhood have also attracted more settlers.
Dakhla is at quite a distance from the main settlements of the country and thus has
remained vastly unknown till the nineteenth century. It is made up of 14 settlements
with a total population of approximately 75,000
inhabitants.
Dakhla Oasis is the second provincial capital of the new valley and lies 350 km from
the Nile Valley with an area of 145,369 square miles (376,505 square km). It is
situated between the Kharga and Farafra oases. It is inhabited by about 170,000
people and is considered one of the most beautiful Oases in Egypt. Dakhla is famed
with its several wells such as Mut and Ayn al Qasr in which the water temperature
reaches 45oc. The economy in the Oasis depends on agriculture and tourist activities
as well as phosphate extraction. The main crops there are mulberry trees, date
palms, figs and citrus fruits. Many rock inscriptions and graffiti could be traced along
the track of Darb el-Ghubbari which links Dakhla with Kharga Oasis. At Al-Dakhilah
tombs of the Old Kingdom (c. 2686–2160 BC) were discovered in the 1970s by an
Egyptian archaeological expedition headed by Ahmed Fakhry. Al-Kharijah has more
extensive ruins. Throughout pharaonic history the oases served as places of exile or
re fuge for those in disfavored with the government. In Roman and Byzantine times
the oases had widespread cultivation, and they became flourishing Christian
settlements. Later, however, raids by desert tribal groups reduced their prosperity.
The oasis dwellers were originally Libyan Berber-speaking peoples, mixed with
immigrants from the south and with exiled Egyptians. In the Muslim period Arabs
intermingled with them, and now they are Arabic speakers. The nomadic desert
dwellers are from the Awlad 'Ali tribal group. The main attractions there are there are
Huwaytah Temple and Amenebi.
Farafra Oasis
Farafra Oasis is the smallest oasis of Egypt and is located in the Western
Desert region. This oasis has a population of approximately 5,000 inhabitants mostly
Bedouins, but recently several smaller villages have sprung up.
In summers, the temperature of the region ranges between 27°C and 35°C;
sometimes even going above the 40°C mark. In winters, the temperature is around
20°C; at nights it may also drop to 0°C; there is no rainfall throughout the year.
Farafra only gained importance during the reign of Romans over Egypt when it
became an important centre for them, but then it almost disappeared into oblivion
and was rediscovered 200 years ago.
The New Valley Project which is looking at developing the Western Desert has given
a new lease of life to Farafra; the area is being developed for tourism as well.
Farafra Oasis exactly located 320 km northwest of Dakhla and 170 km north of
Baharia Oasis. The Farafra Oasis is famed with the White desert with its cream color
and chalk cliff formations as well as the hot springs of Bir Setta abd El Mufid Lake.
Some sightseeing are located in the Oasis such as Qasr Abu Minqar and Qasr El
Farafra, Bir Setta hot Sulphur spring, Palm tree gardens, Abu Nuss Camel Farm,
Lake El Mufid, Badr’s Art Museum who is a contemporary artist displaying his work
made of natural material, Mr. Socks.
Paris Oasis: ( Temple of Dush )
Located 90 km. south of Kharga, it houses the Roman Temple of Dush dedicated to
the God Serapis. Its name derives from Kush, the ancient Sudanese capital which
traded with Egypt along the Nile. Archeologists are still unearthing the ancient city of
Kysis with which the temple is associated; an elaborate system of clay pipes and an
abandoned Christian church, suggest that Kysis was abandoned when its
underground springs dried up but the exact date remains a mystery. There is also a
mud-brick Turkish fortress, an ancient church and some pottery dating to the Coptic.
Siwa Oasis
Siwa is located in the western part of Egypt in that stretch of the Sahara which is
known as the Libyan Desert. This oasis has a population of approximately 23,000
inhabitants most of whom live in the main town while some live in the few villages in
the region .They are mostly Berbers and have their own Berber language and culture
which is heavily influenced by Arabs.
Siwa’s moderate climate is the best in the country for therapeutic purposes. During
spring and autumn, the weather is the most pleasant. Summer and winter experience
extreme temperatures.
This site is believed to have been inhabited for more than 12,000 years. An oracle
temple built here 2,500 years ago was regarded highly by the ancient Egyptian
rulers, and thus, the area flourished.
Today, the area is far away and isolated from the larger cities; its inhabitants are
mostly of nomadic origin whose main activity is agriculture.
As Siwa Oasis located 186 miles from Marsa Matrouh and close to the Libyan
boarder, This location makes the Oasis the most remote amongst other oases in
Egypt, the new motor transportation modes and the tourism development in the area
made Siwa more accessible and decreased isolation. It is situated in a depression
about 12 meters below sea level. Natural springs preserve life and the surrounding
mountains offer protection against the desert storms.
Siwa is famed for its geographic beauty and salt lakes that diminish in size in
summer. In ancient times Siwa was visited by Alexander the Great to see the Oracle
of Amon.
Key attractions
The Temple of Hibis
The temple is situated two km north of the town of Kharga. The structure, dedicated
to god Amun, was built by the Persian emperor Darius I in the 6th century BC. is one
of the largest and best examples of Persian architecture in the country; the carvings
on the walls have been well preserved.
Amun Temple
It was founded by Kektanebes II in the 30th dynasty. The temple, which was
dedicated to Amun, the ram-headed god of life, is situated on a 16 - 24 metre high
limestone plateau. The Oracle of Amun is situated on the edge of the Great Sand
Sea. It's rich history includes a visit by Alexander the Great to consult the oracle of
Amun in 331 BC.
Rock Tombs
These tombs are situated at the so called "mountain of the dead", dating back to the
Ptolemaic and Roman periods.
Gebel El Mowta
Gebel El Mowta or Mountain of the Dead was the burial site for ancient Egyptians,
some of the graves built into the mountain are accessible
Birket Siwa and Birket Zeitun
Birket Siwa and Birket Zeitun are two salt water lakes in the oasis and there exists
Fatnis Island overlooking Beirket Siwa which is like an oasis with a circular pool and
surrounded by palms
The ruins of Shali
The ruins of Shali are quite an impressive sight even though they are almost entirely
ruined; a climb to the top gives a bird’s eye view of the region. The minarets and
passageways give a good idea of what the structure must have looked like.
The annual Tourist Festival is held in October–November at the foot of the mountain
of Gebel Dakrur. The area comes alive with local performances and dances.
Baharia Oasis
Bahariya Oasis is located to the west of the River Nile in Egypt about 300 km southwest of Cairo. The oasis is spread over a large depression, the lowest of its kind in
the country. A cluster of villages with a total population of approximately 30,000
inhabitants constitute the oasis.
Bahariya Oasis enjoys a fairly moderate climate with very chilly winters.
The people of the oasis are known as the Wahati people and are descendants of
the Bedouin tribes. While the residents still lead an idyllic and peaceful life,
connection to Cairo by an asphalt road has introduced several changes in the
lifestyles.
Under the reign of the Pharaohs the region developed into a major agriculture centre;
agriculture is still a primary occupation. The region developed a reputation of a major
wine producer almost 4,000 years ago.
Baharia, the first oasis to be encountered, completely surrounded by high black
escarpments. From an archaeological point of view, little seems to have survived the
pharaonic period. The Greco-Roman period on the other hand is represented by one
of the most important discoveries of the last years, a huge cemetery (about 6 square
kilometers) in the area of el-Bawiti, the capital of Baharia. one hundred mummies
beautifully decorated, some covered with a layer of gold, some wearing painted
masks, some buried in pottery coffins and some wrapped in linen. Archaeologists
excavating there expect to unearth over 10,000 mummies. Statuettes, pottery, jewels
and coins were found and helped date the cemetery to the Greco-Roman period. The
inhabitant of Baharia are a mixture of the original oasis dwellers, the Bedouin tribes
and families who migrated from Middle Egypt and the New Valley. Conditions in the
Oasis began to improve with the construc tion of the road connecting it with Farafra
and the development of the new mines as well as the booming tourism industry
motivated by the new discoveries.
The Oasis Heritage Museum in Bawiti
Situated in the city of Bawiti, Bahariya Oasis, the Oasis Heritage Museum provides a
history of living in desert oasis. There are displays of clothing and jewelry, along with
clay figures engaged in typical oasis activities.
Valley of Golden mummies
The city has received considerable press recently due to the discovery of a Festival
of Mummies by an Egyptian team at Baharia Oasis, located about 380 km west of the
pyramids. Four tombs were excavated, and found inside them were 105 mummies,
many of them beautifully gilded. These mummies, many sumptuously decorated with
religious scenes, represent the very best of Roman-Period mummies ever found in
Egypt. These ancient remains are around 2000 years old, but they have withstood
the test of time remarkably well.
Hercules, Temple of Bahariya
The Temple of Hercules was discovered in October 1996 by Faraq Allah Abdeen,
and Inspector at Bahariya. Initially, it was investigated by that local office, and was
later excavated by a team led by Dr. Zahi Hawass. It was probably constructed in
about the year 21 BC, during the reign of Octavian Augustus. However, We believe
that the major deity worshipped in this temple was Hercules, artifacts found within the
temple indicate that several of other gods may have been worshipped here.
Today, The temple of Hercules is now almost completely destroyed, however there
remains sufficient foundation and other evidence that we may examine the layout of
the temple in some detail. The temple was probably approached from an avenue that
led to the southern section of the temple. The temple itself was surrounded by a
mudbrick and local sandstone wall.