The Kharga Oasis (Arabic: الخارجة al-Ḫāriǧa, pronounced [elˈxæɾɡæ]) lit. ’the outer’; Coptic: (ϯ)ⲟⲩⲁϩ ⲛ̀ϩⲏⲃ (di)wah enhib, “Oasis of Hib”, (ϯ)ⲟⲩⲁϩ ⲙ̀ⲯⲟⲓ (di)wah empsoi “Oasis of Psoi”) is the southernmost of Egypt’s five western oases. It is located in the Western Desert, about 200 km (125 miles) to the west of the Nile valley. “Kharga” or “El Kharga” is also the name of a major town located in the oasis, the capital of New Valley Governorate. The oasis, which was known as the ‘Southern Oasis’ to the Ancient Egyptians and Oasis Magna to the Romans, is the largest of the oases in the Libyan desert of Egypt. It is in a depression about 160 km (100 miles) long and from 20 km (12 miles) to 80 km (50 miles) wide.
Kharga is the most modernised of Egypt’s western oases. The main town is highly functional with all modern facilities, and virtually nothing left of old architecture. Although framed by the oasis, there is no oasis feeling to it, unlike all other oases in this part of Egypt. There is extensive thorn palm, acacia, buffalo thorn and jujube growth in the oasis surrounding the modern town of Kharga. Many remnant wildlife species inhabit this region.
The Köppen-Geiger climate classification system classifies its climate as hot desert (BWh)] Kharga Oasis experiences extreme summers for most of the year with no precipitation and warm winters with cool nights.
Comment (0)