Sahara el Beyda, the White Desert Protected Area, is a national park in Egypt, first established as a protected area in 2002. It is located in the Farafra depression, 45 km (28 mi) north of Qsar El Farafra. Part of the park is in the Farafra Oasis, New Valley Governorate.
The park is the site of sizeable white chalk rock formations created through erosion by wind and sand. It is also the site of cliffs at the northern end of the Farafra Depression, dunes as a part of the Great Sand Sea, and Wadi Hennis and oases at Ain El Maqfi and Ain El Wadi. The altitude in the park varies from 32 to 353 m (105 to 1,158 ft) above sea level. The highest point in the White Desert National Park is at El Qess Abu Said at 353 m (1,158 ft) above sea level, and the lowest is at Wadi Hennis at 32 m (105 ft).
The White Desert National Park covers an area of 3,010 km2 (1,160 sq mi). It is the refuge for various animals, including the endangered Rhim gazelle and the vulnerable Dorcas gazelle, Barbary sheep, jackals; Rüppell’s and red and fennec foxes; and the sand cat.
Location of White Desert National Park
White Desert National Park is located just slightly northwest of the central point of Egypt. The park covers an area of 115.8 square miles (300 sq km).
The White Desert is part of the Farafra depression in the Western Desert. It also features the Farafra Oasis, the Ain El Maqfi Oasis, and the Ain El Wadi Oasis. Therefore, this park is renowned for the white sands, white sand rock formations, and the introduction to the Great Sand Sea.
Characteristics
The more significant Farafra depression covers an area of 380 square miles (980 sq km), creating the second-largest depression in Egypt. However, it has the lowest number of inhabitants.
The white sands manifest as piles and rows of white piles scattered across orange, sandy base landscapes, rock spires, and other unusual white rock formations. The white sand and rocks are either white calcium, quartz crystals, or limestone.
In many places, the collection of white sand appears like snow that has frosted the desert. These white quartz crystals have created several unique picturesque rock shapes. The pinnacle white rock formation is known as Crystal Mountain. It is made out of crystal and features a hole in the middle.
The park’s elevation varies from 104.99 feet (32 m) to 1,158.14 feet (353 m) above sea level. The tallest point occurs at El Qess Abu Said. Some of the landscapes feature pultruding orange-coloured rock formations with white desert facets surrounding the base of each of these rugged rock features.
Along with protecting the unique white sands and rock formations of the Sahara Desert, the park also covers an array of wildlife. Some more widespread species include barbary sheep, fennec fox, Dorcas gazelle, jackal, red fox, Rhmim gazelle, Ruppell’s fox, and Sand cats.
