20 most incredible desert oases.doc

7/27/2019 20 Most Incredible Desert Oases.doc

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20 Most Incredible Desert Oases

The yellow sand dunes stretch to infinity, whilst the scorching sun of the Sahel beats down on yourhead. Youre tired and youre thirsty youve been travelling for miles, searching for water. Yet

nonetheless you are cautious: nothing is as it seems in this land of smokescreens and mirrors. Water!Water! you begin to scream. No even imagination is playing tricks on you. But what if in thedistance, past the undulating sand dunes, lay the waters of sand-locked lagoons and waterfallssurrounded by palm trees?

It is this vision of utopia, surrounded by barren wasteland that inspired us to catalogue some of themost incredible desert oases before they are devoured by the desert sands and become miragesthemselves.

1. Ubari Lakes are part of Erg Awbari Oasis in the Sahara. Located near Fezzan and 30kms north ofGerma in Libya, these salt water lakes are a central trading point for many locals, who gather at theedges of the lake selling souvenirs and other goods.

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Photo:sfivat

Umm Al-Maa, meaning Mother of Water, is one of the largest lakes in the oasis but unfortunately, likeall the lakes, the water table in the area is so low that the lakes are drying up.

As well as the waters being extremely dirty, the saline levels are now similar to the Dead Sea (which isgreat news if you like floating in crud). The abandoned city of Gebraoun is also relatively nearby withits impressive ruins, the settlement is testament to the life-sustaining qualities that the lakes once had.

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Photo:10 Ninjas Steve

Photo:unknown

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Photo:10 Ninjas Steve

Photo:LucaG

2. Huacachina is a small oasis town in the Ica region of southwest Peru. This oasis, named Oasis ofAmericas, is a popular resort with local families and tourists. A legend says the lagoon was createdwhen an inquisitive young hunter disturbed a beautiful princess bathing. She fled, leaving the pool ofwater behind which became the lagoon.

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Photo:dwhaynes2214

Photo:unknown

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Photo:kanjiroushi

Photo:Eric Bronder

3. Turpan, or Tulufan as its also known, is an oasis city in the Xinjiang Uygur Region in China. It is just8km west of the ruined city of Jiaohe, a border garrison town destroyed by Genghis Khan during theHan dynasty.

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Photo:wikimedia commons

4. Were not entirely sure where this desert oasis is but we had to include it because, surely, this iswhat most people perceive as the typical oasis mirage? If anyone has been there, shoot us thelocation.

Photo:unknown

5. This wonderful desert lake is set within Lenis Maranhenses National Park, Maranhao, Brasil. Itforms part of a system of fresh water lagoons which fill up with rainwater during the first six months ofthe year and then gradually evaporate over time to be topped up again the following year. Some of thelakes within the park are dotted with palm trees. This lonely lake, however, has one solitary dry branchdecorating its banks.

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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Turpan-jiaohe-oasis-lateral-d01.jpghttp://photos.linternaute.com/image_photo/540/oasis-palmiers-niger-5296899677-691986.jpghttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Turpan-jiaohe-oasis-lateral-d01.jpghttp://photos.linternaute.com/image_photo/540/oasis-palmiers-niger-5296899677-691986.jpg


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Photo:Ric e Ette

6. Crescent Lake in Chinas Gobi Desert sits on the edge of an ancient city that once saw tradersembark on their journey along the Silk Road to the West. Today it is drying up and has dropped more

than 25 feet in the last 30 years, in part due to water being redirected for local farmers and a doublingof population, resulting in the slow disappearance of a lake that has existed for thousands of years.

Photo:Michael Zhao

7. The beautiful oasis of Chebika in Tunisia is probably one that most people know about withoutrealizing it. It is where Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope was filmed. The story goes that the oasiswas actually named after one of the characters, Chewbacca.

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Photo:Bartek Kuzia

Photo:Howard.Gees

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Photo:Howard.Gees

8. This stunning image shows three men quenching their thirst at a small waterfall in the Saharan oasisof Timia, in Niger. It's a picture perfect portrait of everyday oasis life for local desert dwellers.

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Photo:nygus

9. There are always small enclaves or villages dispersed near bodies of water, no matter how small,and this image shows why. Even in desert areas wholes farms can exist with the life giving powers ofwater.

Photo:wikimedia commons

10. This remote desert lake, fringed by sand dunes is located in Khar Nuur, Mongolia. Its a refreshingswimming spot for travelers who manage to venture into one of the worlds vast desert plains.

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http://flickr.com/photos/nygushttp://flickr.com/photos/nygus


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Photo:unknown

11. Nahal David is a quiet oasis found near Bethlehem,Israel's Palestinian West Bank. Its certainly afar cry from the war-torn images often associated with that part of the world.

Photo:unknown

12. This sprawling oasis is the village of Tinerhir, located at the foothills of Morocco's Atlas Mountains.Todra Gorge and oasis are about 14km away so travellers normally visit both oases on the one trip.

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http://offers.environmentalgraffiti.com/ski/in-israelhttp://offers.environmentalgraffiti.com/ski/in-israelhttp://offers.environmentalgraffiti.com/ski/in-israelhttp://offers.environmentalgraffiti.com/ski/in-israel


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Photo:jon keegan

13. Ghardaia is the main town in M'zab oasis in northern Algeria. Founded in the 11th century, the citywas built around a cave which was reputedly inhabited by the female saint Daa, and is still revered byM'zabite women today. The oasis offers some wonderful examples of original Arabic medievalarchitecture and is now a protected UNESCO World Heritage site.

Photo:Addounya

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http://flickr.com/photos/jonkeegan%20jonkeeganhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Ghardaia.jpghttp://flickr.com/photos/jonkeegan%20jonkeeganhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Ghardaia.jpg


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Photo:Masen

14. This castle is part of an oasis on the western shore of the Persian Gulf in Saudi Arabia, calledQatif. The city dates back to 3,500 BC and was for many years the main town and port in the westernGulf, which meant it was a popular spot for invasion and take over by ruling powers through the ages.This resulted in an eclectic mix of architecture and the area now boasts some of the best archeologicalsites in the kingdom.

Photo:Alib_ahj

15. This oasis is hidden in the depths of the Oman desert, where a number of green oases dot thelandscape. A few oases in the tiny Sultanate, on the corner of the Arabian Peninsula, are hotspots forbotanical studies into agro-biodiversity where many of the ancient oasis are in rapid decline;researchers want to figure out why.

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Photo:loufi

16. Nakhl Fort sits overlooking a lush, green date-palm oasis in Oman. These impressive forts werestrategically placed across much of the Oman desert, like many places, to protect villagers frominvasion.

Photo:unknown

17. This beautiful unnamed oasis is situated in Niger. If you have any further info, wed love to hearabout it in the comments section. Considering the recent unrest in the country it's amazing to findplaces like this still.

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/loufi/3321513/http://www.weltrekordreise.ch/bildaktuell/oman2.jpghttp://www.flickr.com/photos/loufi/3321513/http://www.weltrekordreise.ch/bildaktuell/oman2.jpg


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Photo:

unknown

18. The lush green carpet of shrubland and fields sit in stark contrast to the barren hills in thebackground of this typical oasis village. Any clues to where it is?

Photo:unknown

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20 most incredible desert oases.doc

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