Natural variety makes Oman tourism hotspot
From mountains and oases to plains, seas and beaches, the Sultanate has it all
MUSCAT: Oman is blessed with a variety of natural resources that contribute to the creation of a tourist environment that attracts tourists from inside and outside the Sultanate.
The natural beauty of the Sultanate is woven from the mountains of the Sultanate, its oases, its plains and its seas. It is manifested in the love of adventure, exploration, and recreation.
The Sultanate also enjoys an extended history, and huge civilisation that could be seen all over the Sultanate in the fortresses and towers that are the manifestations of the historic landmarks of the Sultanate.
Al Jabal Al Akhdhar or “The Green Mountain” in the Wilayat of Nizwa, is one of the areas that inspire tourists. The mountain is more than 3,000 meters above sea level. It is part of Al Hajar Moun- tains range. It is characterised by its mild and pleasant weather in the summer and cold in the winter. It also is famous for its variety of agricultural products, such as fruits, flowers, pomegranates, plums, apricots, almonds, walnuts and roses.
Of the beautiful mountains in the summer is Jabal Shams. It is located in the Wilayat of Al Hamra in the Governorate of Al Dakhiliyah. The mountain is more than 3,500 meters above sea level.
This high mountain has helped its climate from the rest of the Sultanate and the Arabian Peninsula where the temperature reaches zero degrees Celsius in the winter and between 26 and 35 degrees Celsius in the summer, making it an attraction for foreign tourists and camping enthusiasts.
Al Kasfa Spring is one of the nat- ural water springs. Its 45 degrees Celsius hot water runs in several streams for irrigation of farms. Its water is known as a natural treatment for rheumatism. It is used as a treatment for skin diseases.
The valleys “wadis” are one of the tourist attractions in the Sultanate. The most famous of these valleys is “Wadi Bani Khalid,” which is about 200 kilometres from the Governorate of Muscat. It is one of the most famous valleys of the Governorate of North Al Sharqiyah. It is a permanent runoff valley. Its splendour lies in the presence of large water ponds that gather in the middle of rocky formations all year round.
Wadi Dhiqah is another beautiful tourist destination in the Sultanate. It is located in the Wilayat of Quriyat. It is an extension of some valleys in Governorate of North Al Sharqiyah. About 120 wadis pour in its main course that extends from the Wilayat of Dama Wa Al Ta’eein to its estuary in the Wilayat of Quriyat. Wadi Dhiqah forms a natural park with many large water basins. The construction of Wadi Dhiqah Dam has led to the fame of the site. The dam can accommodate up to 100 million cubic metres of water.
One of the most important tourist sites in the Sultanate, which tourists can visit during the summer is the Governorate of Dhofar, which is famous during the period from 21st June to 21st September each year for a unique season (Khareef ) or (Monsoon season) where the beauty of nature meets the green mountains, beautiful beaches, plains, valleys, springs and rains, all accompanied by Salalah Tourism Festival.
Salalah is famous for coconuts, bananas, and papayas throughout the year. Visitors are keen to take incense and frankincense as a souvenir of the city whose inhabitants work in the incense and frankincense. The Governorate of Dhofar is characterised by the presence of many beautiful water springs, about 360 springs extending on the mountain strip of the governorate including Razat, Athum, Sahalnout, Jarziz and Hamran sprins).