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 Hanquf= is a range of mountains some twenty kilometres in
length, stretching in a south-easterly direction to the south of
Gebel Elba and separating that mountain from Gebel Shendib. Its
south-eastern portion, containing the highest peaks, is of granite,
while the north-western portion consists of dark rocks. Its highest
point is the northerly one of two remarkable peaks near the south end
of the range, and rises to 1,465 metres, while another summit near
the middle of the range reaches 1,397 metres. The northern part of
Gebel Hanquf is drained by the Wadi O Sir Hadal, a tributary of Wadi
Yoider; its eastern flanks by the Wadi Serimtai; while the western
drainage is to the Wadi Hareitra, which courses from between Gebel
Hanquf and Gebel Shendib westwards to join the Wadi Di-ib.
=Gebel Shendib=, which lies close south-west of Gebel Hanquf, is a
great mass of very high light-coloured peaks flanked on the west by
a tract of moderately high hills of dark colour. The beacon which
marks the highest point, 1,912 metres above sea, is in latitude 22°
0′ 48″, longitude 36° 16′ 30″. Shendib is the third highest
mountain in Egypt proper, being surpassed in altitude only by El
Shayeb and Hamata. Besides the main peak, there are numerous others
exceeding 1,600 metres in height; one of these, some two kilometres
south-east of the principal summit, reaches to 1,863 metres and marks
very nearly the Sudan frontier; its latitude is 21° 59′ 56″,
so that it is only some 120 metres south of the 22nd parallel.
The north portion of Shendib is drained by the Wadi Hareitra,
the south part by Wadi Shendib, both these being tributaries of
Wadi Di-ib.
=Gebel Shendodai= (“Castle Hill” of the Admiralty Charts) is
a high mountain mass lying east of Gebel Hanquf, from which it is
separated by the Wadi Serimtai. Its highest point, a well-marked peak,
is in latitude 22° 3′ 1″, longitude 36° 25′ 31″, and rises
to 1,529 metres above sea-level. Gebel Shendodai is drained by the
Wadis Um Seyal (a tributary of Wadi Serimtai), Mera Kwan, and Shellal.
=Gebel Shellal=, situated close south-east of Gebel Shendodai
on the Sudan frontier, is a group of mountains of slightly lower
altitude than the foregoing, its highest peak being 1,409 metres above
sea-level. Gebel Shellal is drained by the Wadis Shellal and Aqilhoq,
the latter containing a good well, called Bir Frukit. A tract of low
foot-hills, some twelve kilometres broad, fronts Gebels Shendodai
and Shellal seawards, leaving a breadth of some twelve kilometres
of gently sloping coast-plain between them and the shore. One of
the foot-hills of Gebel Shellal, a conspicuous high dark-coloured
ridge near Bir Frukit, bears the name of =Gebel Balatitda=. (It
will be noticed that another hill group west of Gebel Elba bears
the same name).
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