The wadi is a curious natural phenomenon. You drive through miles and miles of desiccated, bone-dry desert in the stifling heat and come upon a pool of tranquil, clear water. A breeze is afoot, boys in shorts are diving from bridges into the inviting pool, dragonflies and butterflies flit among the reeds, tiny colorful fish swim in the shallow channels leading away from the stream.
It's tempting to call it an oasis and be done with it. And the comparison is compelling. But a wadi is much more. The source of water is perennial - it usually emerges from a subterranean aquifer deep under the mountains. There are almost always caves to be found, redolent of bat droppings. Shepherds and goatherds wander in the heat with their flocks.
You can see an abundance of cultivation around a wadi. Besides the ubiquitous date palms flourishing in thick groves, there are fruit trees - mangoes, papayas and lemons, and vegetables such as carrots and melons, gourds and beans.
These images were taken on a tour of Wadi Bani Khalid and Wadi Tiwi in Oman. These wadis, along with the scenic Wadi Shab, are accessible via the coastal highway from Muscat to Sur via Sharqiya.
The natural beauty of Wadi Bani Khalid, bounded by the eastern Hajar mountains, makes it a much-visited tourist destination in Oman.
Wadi Bani Khalid in Sharqiya, Oman, is a veritable oasis of turquoise water against the hot, arid desert.
Pouring out a sluice in the rocks, the stream leads to an underwater cave.
From a bridge over the wadi, these local boys take turns diving in. The mere sight is hypnotic and calming on a searing-hot summer day.
On weekends (Thursdays and Fridays in Oman), Wadi Bani Khalid is thronged by visitors. On this weekday afternoon, though, there are few visitors but goatherds and villagers.
Wadi Tiwi, known as the Wadi of the Nine Villages, in Oman can be accessed easily from the city of Sur, about 240 km from Muscat along the coastal road.
The approach to Wadi Tiwi in Oman
A muddy track skirts Wadi Tiwi. The coastal highway from Sur to Muscat can be seen in the background.
The heat of a summer's day disappears in the cool, green-blue waters of Wadi Bani Khalid. You can't but envy these boys.
Trees laden with fruit, like these mangoes, are a common sight near Wadis, which supply precious fresh water in the desert of Oman.
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