The geography and geology of south-eastern EgyptBall, John
Science
The geography and geology of south-eastern Egypt
Ball, John
Geology -- Egypt; Physical geography -- Egypt
=Wadi Abu Hodeid=, which drains the mountain mass of the same name,
lies to the east of the highest peaks of Gebel Abu Hodeid and is shut
in between them and another high range further east. It has a general
south-south-easterly direction, and a very rapid fall. Its principal
feeder is the short Wadi Odis above referred to, which falls into
it from the west about six kilometres below its head. About one and
a half kilometres below the point of influx of Wadi Odis, there is
a large and important spring of good water in the wadi, called =Bir
Abu Hodeid=. Though I have not visited this spring, its situation is
shown on the map with tolerable accuracy, as its position with regard
to neighbouring triangulated points was indicated by the guides. My
native assistant, who passed the spring on his way to erect the beacon
on Gebel Abu Hodeid, reported it to be very similar to the springs
of Abu Saafa in appearance, though the latter are in a different
rock. From its position in the midst of high mountains, Wadi Abu
Hodeid must at times of rainfall collect a great deal of water, and
this explains the constant supplies yielded by the spring. Above the
spring, the steepness of the wadi renders its ascent very difficult
for loaded camels, and there is no road through its head, but guides
state that there is good grazing at certain seasons in its upper
parts, and animals are taken there to feed. Below the spring, the
wadi opens out and curves eastward round the foot of the remarkable
rounded peak of Abu Hodeid Oqla to join Wadi Hasium on the plain.
The =Rod Anut Berer=, which joins Wadi Hasium about the same point
as Wadi Abu Hodeid but from the opposite side, drains the mountains
of Leqaq and Um Seleim which bound the plain to the south.
=Wadi Tikraneib=, a small wadi full of trees, drains a jagged range
north of Abu Hodeid Oqla, and joins Wadi Hasium on the plain by
several channels.
=Wadi Abu Hireiq=, draining the mountains of the same name, originates
about latitude 22° 27′. On leaving the high mountains its channel
divides, part of the drainage going north-east as Wadi Merdiyeb,
and part south-east as Wadi Abu Hireiq. This latter wadi passes
between the main mountains and a high isolated range of hills for
about seven kilometres, then curves round to the eastward to join
Wadi Hasium. There are numerous loopings and branchings of the wadis
in this neighbourhood, caused by the feeders from the hills and
by the presence of isolated hill masses, which the drainage lines
frequently encircle, and it becomes impossible to say which of the
various channels is the main wadi, so that the name Wadi Abu Hireiq
is applied to all of them collectively.
=Wadi Odruk= is a small wadi draining between two groups of high
hills south-west of Gebel Um Rasein; it joins one of the channels of
Wadi Abu Hireiq about four kilometres above its junction with Hasium.
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