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 Dahanib= is a mountain of dark coloured rocks (diorite and
gabbro), situated twelve and half kilometres south-east of Gebel
Kalalat and eleven kilometres north of the Wadi Khoda. Its summit,
on which is a triangulation beacon, is in latitude 23° 45′ 44″,
longitude 35″ 11′ 10″, and 1,270 metres above sea-level. Gebel
Dahanib is surrounded by other mountains and hills, and access to it
is not very easy. In order to reach it from Gebel Kalalat I had to
make a journey down the Wadi Kalalat, along the coast-plain and up the
Wadis Khoda and Allawi, a total distance of over eighty kilometres,
although the direct distance between the two peaks is only twelve and
a half kilometres. By ascending one of the heads of the Wadi Allawi
until camels could get no further, I was able to pitch a camp 540
metres above sea-level and three kilometres south-west of the beacon,
leaving 730 metres to be climbed on foot. The ascent, though tiring,
was free from difficulties or dangers, and occupied two and a half
hours. A galt, containing only a small supply of water at the time
of my visit, exists a little further up the head of the wadi than
where I fixed my camp. There is a good view from the summit, but in
the winter months Dahanib, like all the mountains near the coast,
is frequently wrapped in clouds for days together. Of seven days
spent on the summit in February 1907, three were passed entirely in
clouds, while only portions of the other four were free from fog
or haze. It was on Gebel Dahanib that I first noticed the curious
electric phenomena which may be observed at high stations when
electrified clouds are passing close overhead, my attention being
first drawn to them by a spark from the eye-piece of my theodolite
striking me over the eye. At the same moment a rapid succession
of sparks a centimetre or so long passed between my hand and the
adjusting screws of the instrument, while both the theodolite and
my hair hissed loudly. In this and all other cases of a like kind,
I judged it best to suspend operations for a time and descend a
little below the summit till the cloud had passed over.
Gebel Dahanib is drained by the Wadis Allawi, Um Tawil, and Shut, all
tributaries of Wadi Khoda, which course for a considerable distance
through the surrounding hills before reaching the main trunk wadi.
PLATE XIV.
[Illustration: Gebel Kalalat.]
[Illustration: Summit of Gebel Faraid. (Granite).]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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