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 Kalalat=, situated about six kilometres west of Gebel Batoga,
is a mass of ridges, higher and darker in colour than Batoga. Its
highest point, marked by a beacon in latitude 23° 49′ 9″,
longitude 35° 17′ 36″, is 1,125 metres above the sea, while
another conspicuous peak one and a half kilometres north-east
of the beacon, rises to 1,080 metres, and there is a third peak
three and a half kilometres south-east of the beacon which attains
894 metres. In ascending Gebel Kalalat to occupy the triangulation
station, I followed up the Wadi Kalalat to where the little winding
Wadi Um Maiat enters it from the south, then turned up the latter wadi
and pitched my camp as far up as the camels could go. The camp was
three kilometres north-east of the beacon and 300 metres above sea,
so that the climb to be made on foot was 825 metres. Though long
and tiring, the ascent to the beacon was not dangerous. Further up
the head of the wadi than my camp, I came on a line of galts (rock
basins) containing rain water, but they were not easy of access
to camels, being in a steep and stony gorge. Perched on the east
flank of Kalalat is a very remarkable pinnacle rock, well seen in
the illustration on Plate XIV. A very good view of the surrounding
mountains is obtained from the summit in clear weather, but the top
was wrapped in clouds for a great part of two out of the four days I
remained on it. Gebel Kalalat is drained from the north by feeders
of the Wadi Kalalat, and from the south by the Wadis Gumudlum and
Kunserob. Wadi Kalalat curves round the north-west side of the mass,
and it is possible that the ascent might be easier by following
that wadi as far as possible and climbing up the north-west face of
the mountain. A rough steep pass, impracticable for loaded camels,
is said to lead from the head of Wadi Kalalat into Wadi Shut.
=Gebel Dibag= is a high dark ridge five kilometres south of Gebel
Batoga, with a peak at each end. The north-west peak is 517 metres,
and the south-east one 544 metres above sea-level. The Wadi Kunserob
curves round its east and south flanks, while the Wadi Dibag lil
Kunserob drains its eastern face into the same channel.
=Gebel Shenshef= is a mass of high dark hills between the Wadis
Shenshef and Gumudlum, close to the Wadi Khoda. On one of its eastern
peaks, situated in latitude 23° 44′ 5″, longitude 35° 22′
40″, on the west side of Wadi Shenshef, and not so high as others
further west, a beacon has been erected overlooking the ruins called
Hitan Shenshef. There are wells in the wadi a short distance below
this hill. The beacon is 290 metres above the sea and 115 metres
above the wadi floor at its foot.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account