The Eastern Desert that lies between the Nile Valley
and the Red Sea is so different from the Western Desert
that it seems odd to use the same word for both. This
desert, although it has its share of sand, is dominated
by its spine of rugged mountains seamed with wadis that
support the one of the richest assemblages of flora
and fauna on mainland Egypt. Gebel Shayib el-Banat (2187m)
is the highest of a number of high mountain peaks some
of which enjoy a degree of orographic precipitation,
which creates mist oases. In addition to this, there
is rainfall of less than 50mm annually. Run-off from
the precipitation benefits the wadis and although there
are no permanent watercourses, some water is retained
and appears as springs; after a rare spell of rain pools
form in rock basins.
On the eastern side of the mountains the many wadis are relatively short and steep, while on the west they are longer and less steep. Owing to the overall extreme aridity of the Eastern Desert, plant and animal life is generally restricted to the wadis and more specifically to the wadi sides. Because rain on the mountains drains into the wadi systems it tends to do so in the form of torrential floods. These floods not only carry with them rocks, sometimes very large ones, but anything growing that happens to be in their way. Because of this the main wadi channels are usually devoid of plant life and vegetation becomes established on the wadi banks above flood level. The exception is that in the lower reaches of wadis where they spread out and are less steep, any flood that has occurred higher up will have lost its force and what water remains can sometimes sink into the ground sufficiently to support vegetation for years to come.
Vegetation that is typical of mountain terrain includes Moringa peregrina and Wild Caper, Capparis sp. The capers are particularly attractive as they grow on cliffs in vivid green clumps dotted with large white flowers. However, they flower at night and the flowers fade rapidly after sun-up so they can only be seen at their best in the early morning.
Acacia tortilis raddiana is a common tree of the wadis and the Toothbrush Bush, Salvadora persica, although it is a typical representative of wadi vegetation, is scarce. The Toothbrush Bush got its name from the widespread use of its twigs and roots as toothbrushes. The tiny, juicy pink berries are edible and have a pleasant, slightly peppery, flavor. Balanites aegyptiaca trees also grow well in this habitat together with the Tamarisk, Tamarix aphylla.
The Egyptian Vulture
or Pharaoh's Chicken, Neophron percnopterus,
and the Sand Partridge, Ammoperdix heyi, are
characteristic birds of the mountains while the wadis
provide resting and feeding places for many species
of small migrant birds.
Reptiles of the mountains
include rock-dwelling lizards such as the Fan-footed
Gecko, Ptyodactylus hasselquistii, the Spiny
Agama, Agama spinosa, and Jan's Cliff Racer,
Coluber rhoderhachis. In the wadi bottoms the
Horned Viper, Cerastes cerastes, is common.
The latter has a more evil reputation than it really
deserves for it is a fairly sluggish snake and will
often bite as a means of defense without delivering
any venom.
The endangered Nubian
Ibex, Capra nubiana, is king of the
mountains but must descend to a wadi water source at
least once every 24 hours to drink. In the wadis Rüppell's
Sand Fox, Vulpes rueppelli, is a common carnivore
and the Caracal, Caracal caracal, is also found.
The Caracal, in common with most large felines, is under
severe pressure.
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