November 5, 2008

10 Stunningly Beautiful Oases From Around The World

Imagine wandering through a vast desert. The dry wind is whipping around you. Sand is pummeling your legs. And all you can think is that you need water before you collapse from dehydration. All of a sudden, you see a gorgeous oasis in the distance. The lush green of the vegetation and the alluring blue of the water seem too good to be true. It sounds like a mirage dreamed up by the writers of an Arabian legend but there are real locations like this all around their world. Their striking beauty would attract attention without any assistance but the fact that these fanciful spots exist against the backdrop of a barren desert landscape makes them all the more attractive to visitors from around the world.


Siwa Oasis, Egypt
Siwa Oasis: The Siwa Oasis (alternative known as Siwah) is an Egyptian Oasis in the middle of the Libyan Desert. It provides refuge from the desert heat to a population of over 20,000 people who live in the isolated settlement built here. Although these modern people call Siwa home, it has been a populated oasis for much longer than any of them have been there; it dates back to the 10th Millennium BC and was used by the Ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans at different periods of time throughout history. It was the location where Alexander the Great traveled to speak with an oracle who confirmed him to be an Egyptian Pharaoh. Filled with historic sites, including what might be the world’s oldest human footprint, the oasis is a popular spot for people on holiday in Egypt.


Huacachina, Peru
Huacachina: Ensconced in the center of hundreds of miles of Peruvian desert, this South American oasis is said to have been a life-saver for many men and their mules who almost died from heat exhaustion. It has recently become a popular resort destination for travelers from around the world who have heard about the lagoon lined with palm trees and want to see it for themselves. The people who live here (there approximately one hundred residents) believe that the oasis was created when a bathing princess was startled by an aggressive suitor; she fled the scene and left behind the bathwater and her robes which formed the lagoon and surrounding desert here. Whether you believe this creation myth or not, you’ll be sure to feel like a princess yourself on a relaxing trip to this destination.


Chebika, Tunisia
Chebika: It’s not too often that you’re going to have a reason to travel to Tunisia but if you get the chance then you’ll want to make sure that you see this heavenly oasis. Filled with fruit trees, this little oasis and the two near it (Mides and Tamerza) bring a natural beauty to the surrounding mountainous desert. An oasis in the mountains isn’t very common so this is a sight to see.


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