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The yellow sand
dunes stretch to infinity, whilst the scorching sun of the Sahel beats
down on your head. You’re tired and you’re thirsty – you’ve 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 the distance, past the undulating
sand dunes, lay the waters of sand-locked lagoons and waterfalls
surrounded by palm trees?
It is this
vision of utopia, surrounded by barren wasteland that inspired us to
catalogue some of the most incredible desert oases before they are
devoured by the desert sands and become mirages themselves.
1. Ubari Lakes
are part of Erg Awbari Oasis in the Sahara. Located near Fezzan and
30kms north of Germa in Libya, these salt water lakes are a central
trading point for many locals, who gather at the edges of the lake
selling souvenirs and other goods.
sfivat
Umm Al-Maa,
meaning Mother of Water, is one of the largest lakes in the oasis but
unfortunately, like all 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 is great news if you like floating in crud). The
abandoned city of Gebraoun is also relatively nearby with its
impressive ruins, the settlement is testament to the life-sustaining
qualities that the lakes once had.
10 Ninjas Steve
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10 Ninjas Steve
LucaG
2. Huacachina is
a small oasis town in the Ica region of southwest Peru. This oasis,
named ‘Oasis of Americas’, is a popular resort with local families and
tourists. A legend says the lagoon was created when an inquisitive
young hunter disturbed a beautiful princess bathing. She fled, leaving
the pool of water behind which became the lagoon.
dwhaynes2214
unknown
kanjiroushi
Eric Bronder
3. Turpan, or
Tulufan as it’s also known, is an oasis city in the Xinjiang Uygur
Region in China. It is just 8km west of the ruined city of Jiaohe, a
border garrison town destroyed by Genghis Khan during the Han dynasty.
wikimedia commons
4. We’re not
entirely sure where this desert oasis is but we had to include it
because, surely, this is what most people perceive as the typical oasis
mirage? If anyone has been there, shoot us the location.
unknown
5. This
wonderful desert lake is set within Lençóis Maranhenses National Park,
Maranhao, Brasil. It forms part of a system of fresh water lagoons
which fill up with rainwater during the first six months of the year
and then gradually evaporate over time to be topped up again the
following year. Some of the lakes within the park are dotted with palm
trees. This lonely lake, however, has one solitary dry branch
decorating its banks.
Ric e Ette
6. Crescent Lake
in China’s Gobi Desert sits on the edge of an ancient city that once
saw traders embark 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
doubling of population, resulting in the slow disappearance of a lake
that has existed for thousands of years.
Michael Zhao
7. The beautiful
oasis of Chebika in Tunisia is probably one that most people know about
without realizing it. It is where Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope was
filmed. The story goes that the oasis was actually named after one of
the characters, Chewbacca.
Bartek Kuzia
Howard.Gees
Howard.Gees
8. This stunning
image shows three men quenching their thirst at a small waterfall in
the Saharan oasis of Timia, in Niger. It’s a picture perfect portrait
of everyday oasis life for local desert dwellers.
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 of water.
wikimedia commons
10. This remote
desert lake, fringed by sand dunes is located in Khar Nuur, Mongolia.
It’s a refreshing swimming spot for travelers who manage to venture
into one of the world’s vast desert plains.
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11. Nahal David
is a quiet oasis found near Bethlehem, Israel’s Palestinian West Bank.
It’s certainly a far cry from the war-torn images often associated with
that part of the world.
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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.
jon keegan
13. Ghardaia is
the main town in M’zab oasis in northern Algeria. Founded in the 11th
century, the city was built around a cave which was reputedly inhabited
by the female saint Daïa, and is still revered by M’zabite women today.
The oasis offers some wonderful examples of original Arabic medieval
architecture and is now a protected UNESCO World Heritage site.
Addounya
Masen
14. This castle
is part of an oasis on the western shore of the Persian Gulf in Saudi
Arabia, called Qatif. The city dates back to 3,500 BC and was for many
years the main town and port in the western Gulf, 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 archeological sites in the kingdom.
Alib_ahj
15. This oasis
is hidden in the depths of the Oman desert, where a number of green
oases dot the landscape. A few oases in the tiny Sultanate, on the
corner of the Arabian Peninsula, are hotspots for botanical studies
into agro-biodiversity where many of the ancient oasis are in rapid
decline; researchers want to figure out why.
loufi
16. Nakhl Fort
sits overlooking a lush, green date-palm oasis in Oman. These
impressive forts were strategically placed across much of the Oman
desert, like many places, to protect villagers from invasion.
unknown
17. This
beautiful unnamed oasis is situated in Niger. If you have any further
info, we’d love to hear about it in the comments section. Considering
the recent unrest in the country it’s amazing to find places like this
still.
unknown
18. The lush
green carpet of shrubland and fields sit in stark contrast to the
barren hills in the background of this typical oasis village. Any clues
to where it is?
SSS_JV's Space 
Comments for part 2
Posted by sssjvsss on July 19, 2008
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For those who missed
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part 3
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