Popularising the geology of exotic Oman

We increasingly hear about geotourism and geological adventures; it is about what distinguishes one place from another.

It is based on geological features. Camping in the wild, sailing through Musandam’s fjords, sandboarding in Rub al Khali, exploring the curiously shaped stones of Duqm's Rock Garden, and much more.

The alternatives show how beautiful and geographically diverse Oman is. These geological, biological, and archaeological trips provide mesmerising experiences of this ancient land.

Who would have thought of Rub al Khali, also known as Empty Quarter, as a tourist destination? Adventurers visit the world's largest contiguous sand desert, with dunes reaching over 250 metres. Bertram Thomas is said to have made the first crossing of the Rub al Khali desert in 1930, while Wilfred Thesiger made two epic journeys across it. The rich archaeological heritage of Dhofar and the ancient lakes fringing the Rub al Khali took me to Ubar, the lost ancient city.

The Rimal Al Sharqiya with dunes reaching 120m high, is the place I call home. I am neither a geologist nor a geographer, but I admire the work of nature.

The concept of geotourism is about two decades old. However, the literature suggests that geology-based tourism has existed since the late seventeenth century.

The Musandam Peninsula, which remains relatively unspoiled by mainstream tourism, is well known for its sea. Enveloped by the dramatic Al Hajar Mountains, the fjords offer a mixture of interpretations. A fjord, a long, deep, narrow body of water that reaches far inland, is often set in a U-shaped valley with steep walls of rock on either side. A sailing experience along its coast and inlets, witnessing towering cliffs and rugged mountains, is enchanting and mysterious.

Mighty is not enough to define Al Hoota Cave, one of the largest cave systems in the world with a formation that resembles a lion and is thought to have been formed over millions of years by carbon-rich water creating spikes hanging from the ceilings. This intricate ecosystem with lakes is home to rare animals, including the blind fish. Known locally as 'Bu Naseh,' the blind fish is the sole cavefish on the Arabian Peninsula.

Oman has two pink lakes, Al Suwih and Al Jazir, which are resting sites for migratory birds. The pink colour comes from the algae Dunaliella, which has a high concentration of salt and B-carotene, and other types of bacteria in the lakes.

A visit to the Rock Garden in Duqm had me wondering what happened millions of years ago on this stretch of desert. It is a scientific research and tourist attraction. Almost perfectly spherical stones sit next to rocks resembling animals, thrones, human body parts, and everything else the imagination can come up with.

Among remarkable geological attractions, the sugar dunes with translucent crystals are of a distinct ecological character. A million years ago, rising and falling sea levels created this spectacular environment, leaving behind vast layers of crystalline gypsum. The whiteness of the sands, which contain 99 per cent gypsum, reflects rather than absorbs the desert’s heat and cold — a striking example of geology in action and a fundamental natural process.

Then there's Bimmah Sinkhole, a gigantic limestone crater filled with turquoise water. Its distinctive shape is supposed to be the consequence of a collapsed underground limestone cave.

Have you heard of 'Oman Exotics' limestone mountain, which was an underground volcano topped with an atoll? A research article published in 1982 describes oceanic carbonate buildups associated with the early stages of continental rifting.

These and many other breathtaking natural wonders can inspire and delight tourists. The important lesson is that while travelling, I noticed things that I had previously overlooked, such as the Eye Fold, an amazing 250 million-year limestone facing one of the villages in the Wadi Al Mayh.