White Desert
Egypt · Africa
About
Sahara el Beyda, the White Desert Protected Area, is a national park in Egypt, first established as a protected area in 2002. It is located in the Farafra depression, 45 km (28 mi) north of the town of Qasr Al Farafra. Part of the park is in the Farafra Oasis (New Valley Governorate).
The park is the site of large white chalk rock formations, created through erosion by wind and sand. They are made of white calcium, quartz crystals, or limestone. The park is also the site of cliffs (at the northern end of the Farafra Depression), sand dunes (part of the Great Sand Sea), as well as Wadi Hennis and oases at Ain El Maqfi and Ain El Wadi.
White Desert National Park covers an area of 300 km2 (120 mi2). The highest point in the park is at El Qess Abu Said at 353 m (1,158 ft) above sea level, and the lowest is at Wadi Hennis at 32 m (105 ft).
The park serves as the refuge for various animals, including the endangered rhim gazelle and the vulnerable dorcas gazelle, as well as Barbary sheep; jackals; Rüppell's, red and fennec foxes; and the sand cat.
Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.