Black Desert (Egypt)

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The Black Desert is a region of volcano-shaped and widely spaced mounds, distributed along about 30 km (19 mi) in western Egypt between the White Desert in the south and the Bahariya Oasis in the north. Most of its mounds are capped by basalt sills, giving them the characteristic black color.

The mounds of the Black Desert, up to 100 metres (328 feet) high, vary in size, composition, height, and shape as some are dark consisting of iron quartzite while others are more reddish as its surface rocks consist of iron sandstone. On the outskirts of the Black Desert are volcanic hills proving the eruption of dark volcanic dolerite, dating back to the Jurassic period 180 million years ago.

Remains of shrubs, and fossilized woodlands have been found in the Black Desert indicating that plants once grew there.

After discovering a large dinosaur skeleton on its borders, the Black Desert has been declared a natural reserve as of 2010.

A little to the North of the White Desert, the Black Desert is closer to Bahariya than Farafra; approximately 50 km to the South of Bawiti. The mountains have eroded to coat the desert with a layer of black powder and rocks giving it its name. Towards the end of the Black Desert are black volcanic hills that ages ago erupted a dark volcanic material called dolerite, which is what the black rocks are made of. Climb up the English Mountain which is the highest point in the Black Desert and you will be awarded with an amazing view of the strange landscape. The Black Desert can be seen as you pass the road from Bahariya to Farafra, but if you want to venture in to its depths a tour guide is advised, tours can easily be arranged from either Bahariya or Farafra.

Unlike its neighbor the White Desert, the Black Desert is in stark contrast with volcanic-shaped mountains often resembling a scene from a Star Wars movie. The mountains and floors are scattered with small volcanic black stones lying on the orange and brown colored sands. it is possible for people to climb the soft peaks with lovely views across the desert area and take some picturesque photographs. The Black Desert is a ‘passing through’ point due to no facilities around as it is totally uninhabited The landscape is of secluded plains with the dunes (small mountains) being of different sizes and formations. Rather than being considered mountains, they are more like volcanic cones rising out of the desert.

Black Desert (Egypt)

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