Southern and Smaller Oases, the Western Desert

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Southern and Smaller Oases, the Western Desert is part of the Tentative list of Egypt in order to qualify for inclusion in the World Heritage List.

The Southern and Smaller Oases in the Western Desert comprise of Kharga Oasis, Dakhla Oasis and Kurkur and Dungul Oases, Moghra Oasis and Wadi El-Natroun. The Western Desert is a mostly rocky, barren desert and uninhabited save for a chain of oases. The landscape is characterized by sand formations, salt flats, lakes that dry up in summer, palms, reed and papyrus.

Map of Southern and Smaller Oases, the Western Desert

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The coordinates shown for all tentative sites were produced as a community effort. They are not official and may change on inscription.

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Boj

Philippines - 31-Jul-21 -

Southern and Smaller Oases, the Western Desert (T) by Boj

Egypt's TWHS needs updating; however, I can say that Dakhla Oasis, one of the five "Southern and Smaller Oases, the Western Desert" will retain its position as candidate for World Heritage Listing in whatever nomenclature or serial nomination form.

It's currently categorised as a natural site, yet it's easily a Cultural Landscape, either Relic or Continuing, depending on the finalised range of buffer and core zone components. The fortified Islamic town of Al Qasr (the iconic Nasr el-Din mosque photo enclosed) is no longer fully inhabited as of December 2020; yet with careful eye, one can detect how this old town, its past residents and the surrounding landscape had interacted within that certain period of time.

Likewise, the farming, irrigation and settlement patterns in Dakhla Oasis continue to evolve.


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Full Name
Southern and Smaller Oases, the Western Desert
Country
Egypt
Added
2003
Type
Natural
Categories
Wildlife habitat - Flora
Link
By ID
2003 Added to Tentative List

The site has 5 locations

Southern and Smaller Oases, the Western Desert: Kharga Oasis (T)
Southern and Smaller Oases, the Western Desert: Dakhla Oasis (T)
Southern and Smaller Oases, the Western Desert: Kurkur and Dungul Oases (T)
Southern and Smaller Oases, the Western Desert: Moghra Oasis (T)
Southern and Smaller Oases, the Western Desert: Wadi El-Natroun Depression (T)
WHS 1997-2024