The world's Most Beautiful Oases<br /><br />https://art.tn/view/653/en/the_worlds_most_beautiful_oases/<br /><br />Oases - areas of lush vegetation surrounded by desert - have an almost mystical hold on our imagination, conjuring up visions of the "Arabian Nights." But they're also a vital part of the desert economy, offering crucial stops for traders and supporting communities. Let’s take a look at some of the most beautiful examples from across the globe.<br /><br />Havasu Falls, USA<br />A huge, inviting plunge pool on Havasu Creek, this Grand Canyon ‘oasis’ is fed by a series of waterfalls that flow out of limestone, giving the water a pleasing blue-green hue.<br />Part of the Havasupai Indian Reservation, the pool is an eight mile walk from the trailhead. Or you can ride a horse, should you wish.<br /><br />Chebika Oasis, Tunisia<br />Known locally as Qasr al-Shams (Castle of the Sun), the Chebika Oasis offers cool respite and life-giving water at the foot of Tunisia’s dramatic Djebel el Negueb Mountains.<br />It was once a Roman outpost, but later became a mountain refuge for the Berber people. Scenes from both Star Wars and The English Patient were filmed here.<br /><br />Moon Lake, China<br />Crescent Moon Lake, China.<br />A tiny slither of water in the middle of a desert in north-west China, Crescent Moon Lake in Dunhuang was in danger of being swallowed up by sand dunes.<br />The government stepped in, refilling it with water and planting a ‘green wall’ of shrubs to stop the encroaching sands. With its picturesque pagoda, it is a popular spot to stop for travellers on their way to the nearby Mogao Caves.<br /><br />Siwa Oasis, Egypt<br />just 50km from the Libyan border and trapped between the Qattara Depression and the Great Sand Sea, this fertile basin is home to a staggering 33,000 people.<br />Most of the locals are Berbers who grow dates and olives and live in mud-brick hamlets connected by a labyrinth of dirt lanes. This urban oasis is also home to an oracle of Ammon. In ancient times, Siwa was known as the Oasis of Amun Ra.<br /><br />Huacachina Oasis, Peru<br />if there is such a thing as a party oasis, this is it. Set in the sand dunes of Peru's south-west, its shores are dotted with bars and clubs and dune buggies roar across the high, rolling sand dunes surrounding the village.<br />Sandboarding is another popular sport, with the waters providing a bracing conclusion for those who can’t stop in time.<br /><br />Wadi Khalid, Oman<br />Wadi Bani Khalid, Oman.<br />In a country with no shortage of oases, one stands out above all others – Wadi Bani Khalid. Fed by a stream of water that flows through the valley the entire year, it is always green.<br />Date palms line the shore and the water is refreshingly cool. If you do take a dip, don’t be surprised to feel tiny fish, nibbling at your skin.<br /><br />
