Bahariya Oasis

Bahariya is a green place in the sand.

It is in the desert in Egypt. The land is a big valley. It has many springs of water.

People live in many small towns. They grow food like dates and olives. They also mine iron.

Old things are found in the sand. People found mummies and old tombs. They even found dinosaur bones!

It is a very special place to visit.

Bahariya Oasis is a green place in the Egypt desert.

It sits in the Western Desert. It is about 370 km from Cairo. The oasis is a large valley. It is 94 km long. It has many springs of water.

Many people live in the oasis. They are called the Waḥātī people. Most people there are Muslims. They grow food like mangoes and olives. They also mine iron ore. Tourism is a big job now. Visitors come to see the desert. They also look for old things.

History is hidden in the sand. People found mummies in old tombs. They even found a church from the fifth century. Long ago, dinosaurs lived here. Scientists found bones from a huge dinosaur called Paralititan stromeri.

This dinosaur lived 95 million years ago. The oasis is a place full of wonder.

The Bahariya Oasis is a rich, green valley in Egypt. It sits inside the Western Desert. This oasis is about 370 km away from Cairo. The valley is shaped like an oval. It is 94 km long and 42 km wide. It covers a large area of about 2000 km2.

Mountains surround the valley. Many water springs flow through the land. This water helps life grow in the dry desert. The oasis is part of the Giza Governorate.

Life in the oasis depends on the land and the earth. Most people work in farming or mining. Farmers grow tasty foods like guavas, mangos, dates, and olives.

Other people work in iron ore mining nearby. Tourism is also a very important job now. Guides lead tours through the beautiful White and Black deserts. Some tours even go to the nearby Siwa Oasis. Visitors come to see the amazing desert views.

History is hidden in the sand of Bahariya. People have lived here since the Neolithic time. Ancient Egyptians had many names for this place. They once called it Djesdjes. Later, it was known as the Northern Oasis.

During the Greco-Roman period, the area was very wealthy. Alexander the Great may have even passed through here. In the 1990s, people found the Valley of the Golden Mummies. This area has many old tombs and treasures.

Many different villages make up the oasis. El Bawiti is the largest village and the main center. Its twin village is called Qasr es-Bawiti. Other villages include Mandishah, el-Zabu, and Harrah.

There is also a village called El Heiz far to the south. Scientists found old mummies there for their studies. In 2010, a special female mummy was found in el-Harrah. She was 3 feet tall and wore plaster decorations. Archaeologists also found old coins and glass vessels there.

Long before people, dinosaurs lived in this region. About 95 million years ago, the area was very different. Scientists found bones of a huge dinosaur called Paralititan stromeri.

They also found a dinosaur called Bahariasaurus. The land used to have volcanic activity too. Today, the landscape has hills made of crystals. You can see golden limestone boulders in the desert. Animals like white foxes and gazelles live there now.

The Bahariya Oasis is a naturally rich depression located in Egypt's Western Desert. It is part of the Giza Governorate and sits approximately 370 km from Cairo. The oasis takes the shape of a large, roughly oval valley. It measures about 94 km in length and 42 km at its maximum width. This valley covers a total area of approximately 2000 km2.

The depression is surrounded by mountains and contains numerous natural springs. These water sources allow life to flourish within the arid desert environment.

The oasis has been known by many different names throughout human history. In Ancient Egypt, it was referred to as 'ḏsḏs' (Djesdjes). This name appears on a scarab from the Middle Kingdom. During the New Kingdom, it was often called 'wḥꜣt mḥtt', which means "the Northern Oasis." By the 25th Dynasty, Djesdjes became the primary name used. In the Greco-Roman period, Latin speakers called it 'Oasis parva', or the Small Oasis. The Greek historian Strabo called it the "Second Oasis," while Olympiodorus of Thebes called it "the Third Oasis." In Coptic times, it was known as the Oasis of Oxyrhynchus. Today, its modern name is al-Wāḥāt al-Baḥriyya, meaning "the Northern Oases."

Human settlement in the depression dates back to the Neolithic period. Archaeological evidence shows that prehistoric hunter-gatherers lived in El Heiz. Researchers found grindstones, arrowheads, and ostrich eggshells at this site. During the Old Kingdom, a settlement was discovered in Qārat el-Abyaḍ by a Czech team. The 26th Dynasty was a period of great economic and cultural prosperity. This era is evidenced by various chapels and tombs, such as those at Qasr 'Allam. During the Greco-Roman period, the area continued to prosper. It is believed that Alexander the Great passed through the oasis while returning from the oracle of Ammon at Siwa.

The oasis is composed of several distinct villages and settlements. El Bawiti is the largest village and serves as the administrative center. Its neighboring "twin" village is Qasr es-Bawiti. To the east, about ten kilometers away, lie the villages of Mandishah and el-Zabu. The village of el-'Aguz is located between El Bawiti and Mandishah. Harrah is the easternmost village in this cluster. El Heiz is the southernmost village, situated about 50 km south of El Bawiti.

Because of this distance, some do not consider El Heiz part of the main Bahariya area.

Modern life in the oasis relies on several key economic sectors. Agriculture remains a vital industry for the local Waḥātī people. They produce various crops, including guavas, mangos, dates, and olives.

Iron ore mining near Bahariya also provides many jobs. Additionally, tourism has become a major source of income. Visitors travel to see the beautiful White and Black deserts. Local guides lead adventure tours to these areas and sometimes to Siwa Oasis. This industry has brought an international presence to the region.

Archaeological discoveries continue to reveal the deep history of the oasis. In 1995, excavations began in the "Valley of the Golden Mummies." This project has uncovered approximately thirty-four tombs. In 2010, a unique Roman-era mummy was found in el-Harrah. This female mummy was 3 feet tall and decorated with plaster to look like Roman clothing. Archaeologists also found coins, glass vessels, and fourteen Greco-Roman tombs at the site. In 2019 and 2021, researchers discovered various Christian ruins. These include structures and churches carved into bedrock that date back to the fifth century CE.

The geological history of the region is equally fascinating. About 95 million years ago, the Bahariya Formation was home to many dinosaurs. Famous specimens include the Spinosaurus and the large sauropod, Paralititan stromeri.

Other dinosaurs found here include Tameryraptor and the Bahariasaurus. The landscape also shows signs of ancient volcanic activity from the Jurassic Period. Today, the desert contains hills made of barite or calcite crystals. There are also golden limestone boulders that provide a habitat for white foxes, gazelles, and rams.