Oman’s unique blend of natural wonders
From coconut fringed beaches and crystal clears seas to rocky mountains and a desert straight from one thousand and one nights, Oman’s landscape surprises at every turn. The first episode of Oman Life travels through the country, exploring its most stunning scenery.
The south of the country is also known as the “Caribbean of the Orient”. Every summer the Dhofar region around the city of Salalah catches some Monsson rains and turns into a green paradise. And when it rains, the nearby valley reveals its stunning beauty. The natural park Wadi Darbat straddles the hills.
Musallam Hassan Masoud, a desert guide, said, “When you come from the desert you can’t believe it. There is water, a lake, there is greenery. There is a beautiful canyon, which you couldn’t imagine on the Arabian Peninsula.”
But the region is also famous for frankincense. Bedouin Ahmed Mohammed Hawas has been tending his trees for 30 years. When he cuts the bark, the white sap becomes pearls of Frankincense resin. “These trees are very precious to us. They are our national treasure,” he said. “Some of the Frankincense is used for perfume, some for medicine and some is used against bad spirits.”
With the enchanting “Scent of Oman” wafting us along, we continued the journey, going north to another green paradise: the “Jabel Akhdar” mountains, also called the “Green Mountain”. Clinging to vertiginous cliffs were orchards growing figs, peaches, apples, roses and pomegranates.
It’s all possible because of the 4,000-year-old UNESCO world heritage irrigation system Falaj. These ancient water channels are an ecological marvel;sending water run through the villages using the natural slopes.
At the foot of the mountain Said Al-Shureiky ensures the water keeps flowing. As a Waqil he is responsible for distributing water to more than 10,000 people. “We’ve distributed water since the ancient times, and we still do it the same way,” he said. “I learned the job from my elders.”
From the “Alps of Oman” to the sands of the Sharqiya desert, locals and tourists alike love driving up and down the dunes. They’re up to 200 metres high. They say it’s an adrenaline packed experience, almost like being at sea in a storm.
The fabulous dunes stretch to the edge of the Indian Ocean. The desert is more than 6,000 years old and home to the Bedouins. Salma Al-Wahaibi and her family have lived here all their lives. She wants to keep their heritage alive and pass on her knowledge to the next generation. She says they have maintained their traditions including keeping camels and sheep, just like it was in the past.
In the next edition of “Oman Life” we’ll explore the country’s rich marine life and witness a unique natural wonder: we watch the eggs of the endangered green turtle being laid and then hatching.
JABAL AKHDAR || OMAN || 2018
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The Jebel Akhar, Jabal Akhdar or Al Jabal Al Akhdar (Arabic: الجبل الأخضر meaning the Green Mountain), is part of the Al Hajar Mountains range in Ad Dakhiliyah Governorate of Oman. It extends about 300 km (186 mi) northwest to southeast, between 50–100 km (31–62 mi) inland from the Gulf of Oman coast, and is one of Oman’s most spectacular areas. The highest point, Jebel Shams (Mountain of the Sun), is around 3,000 metres (around 9,800 feet) high.
This mostly limestone[1] mountain is the highest point in Oman and the whole of eastern Arabia. Jebel Akhdar forms the central section of the Al Hajar Mountains range, and is located around 150 km (93 mi) from Muscat. The range is mostly desert, but at higher altitudes receives around 300 mm (12 in) of precipitation annually — moist enough to allow the growth of shrubs and trees and support agriculture.[2] It is this that gives the mountains their green name.[3][4]
Terraces of the Jebal Akhdar
An old stronghold on the inland side of the mountain is Birkat al-Mawz, or Pool of the Plantains, with a layout similar to the nearby Jabrin palace. Poised across the yawning mouth of a great pass into the mountains, Birkat al-Mawz was one of the fortresses of the Bani Riyam tribe which controlled the mountain heartland. Collapsing into ruin until recently, the mud-brick fortress and its painted ceilings are now well on the way to restoration.[5]
The area is about a 45-minute drive from Nizwa and is known for its traditional rose water extraction[6][7] and agricultural products including pomegranates, walnuts, apricots, black grapes and peaches.[8] It is also the site of honey bee breeding for much of Oman.[9] Agricultural production is improved by the use of Aflaj irrigation channels and their associated terraces system devised by the local farmers, who have lived on this mountain for hundreds of years.[10] The Jebel is mostly inhabited by the ancient Arab tribe Bani Riyam (al Riyamy).[11] Most descendants of the tribe are now in the four nearby villages, including Nizwa, Izki and Ibra.[12]
Between 1954 and 1959, the area became a site of the Jebel Akhdar War, a conflict between Omani forces loyal to the sultan of Oman (aided by British soldiers, including the Special Air Service) and Saudi Arabian-backed rebel forces of the inland Imamate of Oman.[13]
In August 2011, Sultan Qaboos designated Jebel Akhdar a nature reserve in a bid to conserve its unique yet fragile biodiversity. A decree issued by Sultan Qaboos established the ‘Jebel Akhdar Sanctuary for Natural Sceneries.’ The Minister of Environment and Climate Affairs has authority to draft guidelines regulating access and developmental activity within the reserve.[14]
Since 2011, the mountain has featured as the principal climb in the Tour of Oman road bicycle race.[15] In the area, several important rock art sites, with figures dating back to 6000 years ago, have been discovered and studied.[16]
Falaj Cleaner - project of student from ICT
Don by student from Ibri College of Technology..
RASHID AIL SULIMAN ALGHAFRI
MOHAMMED SAID KHALAF ALABRI
SAID HAMD SALIM ALJSSASI
AHMED KHALIFA AL-GHAFRI
Symposium on Ancient Oman (morning)
Morning session of an all-day symposium, Ancient Oman: Archaeological Digs and Historical Discoveries in the Sultanate of Oman. The symposium was sponsored in partnership with the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center.
Speaker Biography: Said bin Nasser Alsalmi is director general of the Office of the Adviser to His Majesty the Sultan for Cultural Affairs of Oman.
Speaker Biography: Kimberly D. Williams is associate professor of anthropology at Temple University and director of Social, Spatial and Bioarchaeological Historical Studies of Oman.
Speaker Biography: Eli Dollarhide is a doctoral student working together with Zenobie S. Garett in the department of anthropology at New York University on a project to map Magan.
Speaker Biography: Mark Kenoyer is professor of anthropology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
For transcript and more information, visit
Global Warming Investment
Global Warming Investment
By ProfitableInvestingTips.com
The United States military is preparing for threats related to global warming. Recently published scientific reports tell us that huge glaciers are calving off of the Antarctic ice shelf which could raise sea levels by four feet in a generation and eventually by twenty feet, endangering coastal populations around the world. Tribes in the sub-Sahara are fighting to the death over rights to water sources that are drying up. Our focus in this regard is global warming investment. Terrible things may indeed happen due to climate change but the world will go on. Those who adapt, invest wisely and prepare for the future will prosper. Successful global warming investment will require both a defensive and an offensive posture. If you believe that your coastal business or home will be at risk it might be a good idea to sell before that becomes apparent to everyone else. And if you catch a glimpse of a technology that will help protect coastal areas, support military efforts to maintain peace, bring water to dry regions of the earth, and purify dwindling supplies of clean water now is the time to invest in the future. The fundamental analysis of global warming investment starts with sorting out the facts from the hype.
How Much Water is Trapped in Glacial Ice?
Ninety percent of glacial ice is in Antarctica and ten percent is atop Greenland. According to the United States Geologic Survey, glacial ice comprises 1.7 percent of all water on earth but two thirds of all fresh water. Total global water is about 332 million cubic miles. Glacial water is about 5.7 million cubic miles. During the last ice age when glaciers extended across North America and Eurasia, sea levels were 400 feet lower than today. During the age of the dinosaurs 100 million years ago sea levels were as much as 165 feet higher than today and in the pre-glacial period 125,000 years ago sea levels were 18 feet higher than today. Sound estimates are that if all the glaciers on earth melted the sea would rise 230 feet!
The Energy of the Weather
El Niño is a weather phenomenon that recurs every several years and is due to temperature changes in the South Pacific. The extra energy that El Niño brings to the western shores of the Americas results in strong storms as far inland as the Midwest. Likewise such phenomena result in droughts in some areas while causing floods in others.
Human Reaction and Global Warming Investment
When water supplies dwindle in some areas the result is not just water rationing. There is political unrest and there can be violence. We see this in regions like the sub-Sahara as well as in Syria! Although we would like to see peace in Syria climate changes could lead to continuing unrest. The US military is taking all of this seriously and developing contingency plans. Those who want to make money along the way will pay attention and consider global warming investment, that is to say, investment in things that will make money and preserve capital if the worst global warming concerns are true and society must respond or melt down.
CO2 Reduction, Water Purification and Weapons Systems
The current argument on the political agenda is how to reduce CO2 emission from coal fired power plants. Whether that occurs this year, next or in a decade it will happen and those who invest in the winning technology will profit. There is already technology in use in Saudi Arabia to purify salt water for drinking and irrigation. Making this technology useful for the broader world will be profitable and it's a good way to approach global warming investment. Lastly, the major world powers will likely have to deal with an increasingly unstable world and those who invest in surveillance systems like drones or advanced communications systems and weapons will likely make money. As always do your own homework before investing and if you want to make money investing stick to things that you have studied and understand.