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 el Anbat= is conveniently considered here, though it lies
on the south side of the Wadi Hodein. It presents a somewhat
similar appearance to Gebel Harhagit, from which it lies nineteen
kilometres south-east, and like it bears a beacon on its summit. The
position of the beacon is latitude 23° 6′ 5″, longitude 35°
19′ 27″. El Anbat is lower than Harhagit, being only 390 metres
above sea-level; it consists also of a different rock, being chiefly
composed of curious brown and reddish calcareous schists. Gebel el
Anbat is practically in the Wadi Hodein, the main channel of which is
deviated by its foot-hills so as to pass round the east side of the
hill. It is best ascended from the south, where a camp can be fixed
about 600 metres south of the beacon and about 255 metres below it;
the ascent is easy and occupies less than an hour.
Eastward of Gebel Abu Dahr there extends for some thirty kilometres
along the south side of Wadi Khoda a mountainous tract of dark rocks,
the principal masses of which, from west to east, bear the names
of Gebel Hindia, Gebel Um Akra, and Gebel Um Etli. These mountains
have only been seen from a distance, and little is known about
them beyond the positions and altitudes of their principal peaks,
which have been fixed by triangulation. =Gebel Hindia=, thirteen
kilometres east of Abu Dahr, rises to 873 metres above sea-level,
and is drained partly by the Wadi Hindia to the north, and partly
by the Wadi Salib el Azrak. =Gebel Um Akra=, six kilometres further
east, is higher, its highest peak, marked by a beacon, being 1,050
metres above the sea, while a ridge a little further south reaches
970 metres; it is drained to Wadi Khoda by the Wadi Um Akra. =Gebel
Um Etli=, which forms the south side of the Wadi Khoda just before
that wadi emerges on to the coast-plain, has three main summits,
reaching respectively to 844, 795, and 764 metres above the sea. It
is a rather extensive mass, drained on the north by the Wadis Buluk
and Um Lassaf, tributaries of Wadi Khoda, and on the south by the
Wadi Um Etli, which reaches the sea independently.
=The Faraid Group.=
The mountains of this group cover a tract about forty kilometres in
length from north to south, between the Wadis Um Etli and Rahaba and
lie closer to the sea than any other mountains in the area described,
their peaks being only ten to twelve kilometres from the coast. They
consist entirely of granite, weathered into a forest of peaks the
forms of which render them in respect of shape the most remarkable
mountains in Egypt. There are four main masses in the group,
of which the three northern ones are called collectively Faraid,
while the southern one, which is smaller than, and separated from,
the rest, is called by the diminutive name Fereyid.
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