Long Way Education

April 29, 2022

By Eman Abdallah Kamel

Eman is a writer and an engineer. She is interested in writing about Natural Parks in Egypt.

Enjoy the beauty of the White Desert sands. The White Desert Reserve is distinguished by its beautiful white color in the desert sands. In this article, you will learn about the location of the White Desert, its importance, and its destinations.

White Desert National Park

God Almighty created the universe beautifully. One of the phenomena of this beauty is the White Desert Reserve.

The White Desert is situated in the Western Desert of Egypt, approximately 45 km north of the Farafra Oasis in the New Valley Governorate, and about 500 km from Cairo, the capital of Egypt.

The White Desert protected area covers an area of 3010 km². It was declared a natural reserve in 2002 by the government of Egypt.

The rocks of the White Desert Reserve resemble animals, mushrooms, and a variety of strange shapes.

Let’s explore the White Desert Natural Park.

Why was the White Desert called that name?

The White Desert is so named because of the white ice-like color that covers most of its surface and the presence of large white chalk rocks.

The Importance of the White Desert

The White Desert region is an example of the karst phenomenon. It contains traces and tools dating back to the prehistoric era. There are also rare tombs, caves, dunes, fossils, and white limestone rocks that are distinctively formed in this area.

The White Desert features snowy chalk columns formed by winds and steep hills that give the area a geological position and a rare nature. The White Desert is important because it is considered an open museum to study the desert environment.

The reserve involves rare plants such as White Zygophyllum, along with endangered animals such as mountain lizards, white deer, and Egyptian deer. Rare birds such as the crow.

There are also natural warm water wells that contain a low sulfur content, which makes them ideal for swimming and relaxation. These wells are surrounded by palm and olive trees. The White Desert is very calm, as it is far from densely populated.

The rocks there collect sunlight during the day and look like lanterns at night due to their crystalline composition, which absorbs sunlight and emits a soft white glow throughout the day.

Milestone of the White Desert

• To the northeast of the white desert lies the mountain of Twin Peaks which lies in the Aquabat (Obstacles) area. This area was named with this name because of the bump obstacles that anyone faces to pass through, but this area is an essential milestone for visitors.

What was the Reason for the Whiteness of the White Desert?

The whiteness of the white desert was due to the geological structure of this region when it was part of a large ocean in North Africa (Tethys Ocean). After the ocean receded 40 million years ago due to climate change, leaving the remains of shells and animal skeletons that once lived in that region. When these structures have carried out, they left behind chalk rocks.

• Western parts of the white desert have a white valley area, less visited than the eastern parts due to poor roads.

• The Mushroom Peaks area is the most attractive for tourists. The reason for this is the presence of large, carved limestone that looks like a mushroom. In the lower part of this limestone are fossilized remains of white chalk. Palm trees and wells surround the mushroom area, providing a resting area for visitors.

Wind Faceted Stone

It is a jagged rock or sculpted by wind-blown sand. These geomorphic characteristics are more prevalent in the arid desert. Due to a little vegetation that helps transport the aeolian particles where the wind is strong but not sand-swept.

Tips For the Visitors

1. Traveling from Cairo to the White Desert takes approximately seven hours.
2. To travel to the protected area, you need to use a four-wheel-drive vehicle. While exploring it, you can ride a camel.
3. The White Desert is a suitable place for camping and safari, as it is free from dangerous reptiles and animals.
4. For the best weather, visit between October and March.

Sources

• www.eeaa.gov.eg… Egypt State Information Service, Environmental Tourism.
• www.researchgate.net… Karst Processes and Landforms

©Eman Abdallah Kamel, 2022

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