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 Um Rasein= is a triple-headed gneiss boss rising up boldly
among schists to the east of Gebel Medarai. Its remarkable form
and light colour render it a conspicuous feature to a traveller
approaching it from the north-east, and it is an important landmark
for the well, Bir Um Rasein, which exists in a small wadi at its
north foot. The highest peak of the three, marked by a triangulation
beacon in latitude 22° 28′ 12″, longitude 35° 20′ 19″,
is 909 metres above sea-level. For ascending the mountain, it is
best to follow up the Wadi Merdiyeb for a short distance on the
west side of the range, and a camp can be placed at 386 metres
above the sea in a small tributary gully which drains from the main
mountain. The climb of 523 metres to the beacon is steep in places,
but can be accomplished in two hours without difficulty by any one
used to negotiating smooth steep rocks. The top of the mountain is
more convenient for observation than most others in this region,
and there is a good view from it. The beacon is on a smooth hard
granite surface, with plenty of room to walk round an instrument,
while a little to the west there is a good place to pitch a small
tent, and a convenient cave for servants to sleep in.
=Kilia Arib=, another isolated granite mass about six kilometres
further east, rises to 647 metres above sea, and is a landmark for
the mouth of Wadi Diqdib, which contains a well.
To the east and south of Kilia Arib are some smaller granite hills
called Tibashoi. Though rising only some fifty or sixty metres
above the plain, these hills are conspicuous landmarks from their
isolated position. The northern, central, and southern ones are
called respectively =Tibashoi Dumat=, =Tibashoi Tumalhoi=, and
=Tibashoi Tomakolat=. Another hill of similar size and character,
five kilometres north-north-east of Kilia Arib, is called =Tuquqî=.
=Qrein Salama= is a little group of diorite hills rising from the
coast-plain to the east of Gebel Gerf. The highest hill of the group,
354 metres above sea, forms a conspicuous landmark which is visible
for long distances.
=Berget Abu Sarib= is a tract of low dark hills, with much drifted
sand, lying a few kilometres north-east of Qrein Salama.
=Gimeida=, a small but conspicuous black conical hill, rising to
sixty metres above the coast-plain, or 123 metres above sea-level,
is important as a landmark for ships entering Mersa Shab. A
triangulation beacon has been erected on the summit, the position of
which is latitude 22° 46′ 29″, longitude 35° 37′ 49″. The
azimuth from the beacon to the big tree at Mersa Shab is N. 62½°
E. A much lower dolerite ridge, two kilometres east of Gimeida,
is called =Umarawi=.
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