Key Facts about Dakhla Oasis

About Dakhla Oasis:

• It is a desert oasis located west of the Nile River, between Cairo and Luxor in Egypt.
• It is part of the Western Desert, which covers two-thirds of the land area of the country.
• It is known for its rich history and stunning landscapes.
• Nomadic hunter-gatherers first settled in Dakhla Oasis around 12,000 years ago.
• It has long been a crossroads between different parts of North Africa.
  • Ancient routes passing through the region connected communities travelling between Egypt, the Sahara, and Libya, leaving behind evidence of repeated human activity.
• Among the most valuable remains are thousands of petroglyphs carved into exposed rock surfaces.
  • Some depict animals that once lived in a wetter Sahara, while others show people, hunting scenes, and symbols connected to different periods of settlement.
• It was only connected to the outside world by a road built in the 80s, the so-called Great Desert Loop.
• The soil's exceptional fertility makes Dakhla famous. Local farmers grow dates, olives, and other crops that are the foundations of the region's agriculture.
• The oasis also features therapeutic hot springs like Bir Tarfawi and Bir Al-Gebel.
• Dakhla Oasis is home to several important sites, including Mut, Al-Qasr village, and the Dakhla Oasis Heritage Museum.

What is an Oasis?

• An oasis is an area made fertile by a source of freshwater in an otherwise dry and arid region.
• Oases (more than one oasis) are irrigated by natural springs or other underground water sources.
• They vary in size from a cluster of date palms around a well or a spring to a city and its irrigated cropland.
• Dates, cotton, olives, figs, citrus fruits, wheat, and corn (maize) are common oasis crops.
• Underground water sources called aquifers supply most oases.
• In some cases, a natural spring brings the underground water to the surface. At other oases, manmade wells tap the aquifer.