The Eastern Desert (known archaically as Arabia or the Arabian Desert) is the part of the Sahara Desert that is located east of the Nile River. It spans of northeastern Africa and is bordered by the Gulf of Suez and the Red Sea to the east, and the Nile River to the west. It extends through Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and the Sudan. The Eastern Desert consists of a mountain range which runs parallel to the coast (known as the Red Sea Hills), wide sedimentary plateaus extending from either side of the mountains and the Red Sea coast. The rainfall, climate, vegetation and animal life sustained in the desert varies between these different regions. The Eastern Desert has been a mining site for building materials, as well as precious and semi-precious metals, throughout history. It has historically contained many trade routes leading to and from the Red Sea, including the Suez Canal.

Geography

Historical formation

Between 100 and 35 million years ago the area that is now the Eastern Desert was underwater, covered by the Tethys Ocean. During the Oligocene period, around 34 million years ago, the land began to tilt and the coastline was pushed back to the north and west. Concurrently, the basement complex to the east was uplifted, forming the mountain range of the Desert. In this same sequence of land movements, a rift which is now the Red Sea was opened up.

Mountains

thumb|Wadi in the Eastern Desert

The mountain range of the Eastern Desert runs between inland from and parallel to the Red Sea Coast. It has peaks around above sea level. The southern mountains are predominantly composed of igneous rock while the mountains to the north are composed of limestone. Separating the mountains are wide wadis which allow for the runoff of rainfall from the mountains to the Red Sea and the Nile River. The mountain range's highest peak is Gabal Sha'ib El Banat at above sea level. Other significant peaks include Jebel Erba () Jabal Oda (), Jabal Shaib al Banat (), Jebel Hamata (), Gebel Amm Anad (), South Galala (), and North Galala ().

Plateaus

Sedimentary plateaus run on either side of the mountains. In general, the northern sections of these plateaus have a limestone base while the southern sections are sandstone. The plateau between the Nile River and the mountains is also known as the inland Eastern Desert and is subdivided into four sections: The Cairo-Suez Desert, The Limestone Desert, The Sandstone (Idfu-Kom Ombo) Desert, and the Nubian Desert.

Coastal vegetation

There are three main ecosystems within the coastal region of the Eastern Desert: littoral salt marsh, coastal desert and coastal mountains. The presence of sea spray, tidal movements and salt water seepage means that vegetation in these areas must be well adapted to living in a saline environment.

Littoral salt marsh

The salt marsh is created as mud builds up on tidal flats and plants grow on the mud, making it a more stable and permanent ecosystem. The two main types of vegetation in this area are mangrove and salt marsh vegetation. The mountain range also provides a habitat for a variety of birdlife including the golden eagle and the bearded vulture, which are rarely found in any other areas of the Sahara.

History

The earliest signs of humans in the desert was found in the form of flint tools from 250,000 BC. The Ancient Egyptians exploited the desert resources of copper, gold, iron and precious stones. As well as for trade, they used these resources to improve their society and in their burials.

Roman period (30 BC–AD 395)

Commercial trade increased further during the Roman period (30 BC–AD 395) and more trade routes were established across the desert. Red Sea ports were points of embarkation for trade with India. During the Ptolemaic and Roman period the chief port was Berenice Troglodytica, and the Via Hadriana led from Berenice to Antinoöpolis on the Nile. Items being traded diversified during this period to include goods such as fabrics and pearls. "Imperial Porphyry" was quarried at Mons Claudianus

Today

thumb|Tourism buses in the Eastern Desert

The Eastern Desert is a popular site for tours, safaris and other expeditions. Mining also still occurs in the Desert.

<gallery widths="200px" heights="145px">

File:Eastern-desert-mountain-range-Qena.jpg|The Eastern Desert mountain range along the Safaga-Qena Road

File:Eastern-desert.jpg|The Eastern Desert along the Hurghada-Safaga Road

File:Eastern-desert-mountain-range.jpg|Early morning with the Eastern Desert mountain range on the horizon

File:Eastern Desert (Egypt) 3.jpg|The Eastern Desert, with mountain ranges in view

</gallery>

See also

  • Anthony the Great
  • Geography of Egypt
  • Libyan Desert (Western Desert)

Citations

General bibliography

  • Ball, John (1912), The geography and geology of south-eastern Egypt , Cairo: Government Press.
  • Barnard, H., & Duistermaat, K. (2012). The history of the peoples of the Eastern Desert. University of California.
  • Eastern Desert - Peakbagger.com. Peakbagger.com. (2021). Retrieved 23 April 2021, from <nowiki>https://www.peakbagger.com/range.aspx?rid=614</nowiki>.
  • Egypt – The Eastern Desert. (2021). Retrieved from <nowiki>https://www.britannica.com/place/Egypt/The-Eastern-Desert</nowiki>
  • Hoath, R. (2009). Field guide to the mammals of Egypt. The American University in Cairo Press.
  • Sanders, D. (2017). Mining Resources in Ancient Egypt. Retrieved from <nowiki>https://sciencing.com/mining-resources-ancient-egypt-11732.html</nowiki>
  • Van der Veen, M., Bouchaud, C., Cappers, R., & Newton, C. (2021). The Eastern Desert of Egypt during the Greco-Roman period: archaeological reports. College de France. <nowiki>https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4834-0269</nowiki>
  • National Parks of Egypt
  • Histories By Herodotus [https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/ancient/herodotus-history.txt]