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
=Gebel Egat= is a high mountain close to the south-west of Gebel
Mikbi, forming the continuation of the watershed. It has two principal
peaks, two and a quarter kilometres apart, of which the south-west
one is the higher, being 1,422 metres, while the north-east one is
1,277 metres above the sea. The western face of the mass is drained
by the Wadi Egat, a tributary of Kharit, while the eastern flanks
are cut up by feeders of the Wadi Sefent, a tributary of Wadi Lahami.
=Gebels Um Sellim= and =Gumudlum= are high hill ranges forming an
eastward extension of the Egat and Mikbi mountains, on the north side
of Wadis Sefent and Lahami. The highest point of Gebel Um Sellim is
947 metres above sea, or about 620 metres above the floor of Wadi
Lahami. These ranges are flanked by lower hills through which run
various small wadis such as Um Khuzuma, Um Ghobasha, and Gumudlum,
all feeders of Wadi Lahami. Some of these small wadis contain rock
basins or galts which retain large supplies of water for some time
after rain has fallen on the hills.
=Gebel Abu Gurdi= is a great mountain in latitude 24° 0′, forming
the terminal peak to the south of the Hamata group. The beacon on
its summit, in latitude 24° 0′ 11″, longitude 35° 5′ 17″,
is 1,562 metres above sea-level. Though in reality a ridge, Abu Gurdi
from most points of view looks like a rather flat cone, surrounded
by lower hills. It is on the main watershed, which crossing to the
summit from Gebel Egat, continues south-eastward along a narrow ridge
descending to the pass at the head of Wadi Lahami. The south-west
parts of Abu Gurdi are drained by the Wadis Abu Gurdi and Elemikan,
both tributaries of Kharit, while its southern and eastern parts
drain into Wadi Lahami by various feeders, of which the chief are the
Wadis Um Karaba, Um Rishan, Um Homar, and Sefent. Gebel Abu Gurdi
could probably be ascended from the west by following up the Wadi
Abu Gurdi, but in occupying the mountain as a triangulation station
I descended the Wadi Lahami as far as the point of influx of Wadi Um
Karaba and then ascended the latter wadi as far as the camels could
get, pitching my camp two kilometres south of the summit at 804 metres
above sea-level. The ascent of 758 metres to the beacon on foot from
the camp occupied two and a quarter hours of fairly stiff climbing;
it presented no serious difficulties, but the rock near the top is
much broken up and one has to be careful lest blocks are dislodged
under one’s foot. The view from the top of Abu Gurdi on a clear day
must be extremely fine, but during the three days I remained there
a thin haze spoiled the distant prospect, especially towards the
coast; the remarkable shapes of the granite peaks of Gebel Faraid,
sixty kilometres to the south-south-east, formed the most striking
feature in the scene.
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