Oases: Sentinels of the Desert

Oman: The Hanging Gardens of Jebel Akhdar (1x3)

Udgivelsesdato: Jan 03, 2020

To the north of the Sultanate of Oman, in the middle of the Djebel Akhdar mountain range, there is a small green phenomenon. In one of the driest regions in the world, residents have been able to create lush gardens on rocky slopes. These oases consist of terraces where fruit trees, vegetables and crops grow. Damask roses also bloom here. Rose water, valued throughout the Middle East, comes from the flowers for which the region is known. Water is extremely scarce in this desert region, but there are springs in the depths of the mountains. As early as 2,000 years ago, people showed their creativity by bringing precious water to their farms through channels that were sometimes cut several kilometers into the rock. These canals are called Falaj and are the lifelines of the villages. Even today they roam the oases of Djebel Akhdar.