Oman’s natural beauty a treat for tourists

The natural resources of the Sultanate are a huge draw for tourists coming from both inside and outside the country.

Its natural beauty is visible in its mountains, oases, plains and its seas. It is also manifested in the love for adventure, exploration and recreation. The Sultanate also enjoys an extended history and huge civilisation that can be seen all over in its fortresses and towers, which are its historic landmarks.
 

Al Jabal Al Akhdhar, or “The Green Mountain,” in the Wilayat of Nizwa is one of the areas that attract tourists. The mountain is more than 3,000 metres above sea level. It is part of the Al Hajar Mountains range. It is characterised by mild and pleasant weather in the summer and cold conditions in the winter. It is also 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 A’Dakhiliyah. The mountain is more than 3,500 metres above sea level. Thanks to the height of the mountain, the climate here is different from the other areas in the Sultanate and the Arabian Peninsula, where the temperature reaches 0°C in the winter and between 26 °C and 35°C in the summer, making it attractive for foreign tourists and camping enthusiasts.

Al Kasfa Spring is one of the natural water springs. Its 45 °C hot water runs in several streams for irrigation of farms. Its water is known to be a natural treatment for rheumatism. It is used in the treatment of skin diseases also.

The valleys, or “wadis”, in the Sultanate are another major pull for tourists. 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 A’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 the Governorate of North A’Sharqiyah. About 120 wadis pour into its main course that extends from the Wilayat of Dama Wa A’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 made the site famous. The dam can accommodate up to 100 million cubic metres of water.

Salalah is famous for coconuts, bananas and papayas throughout the year. Visitors are keen to take incense and frankincense as a souvenir from the city, whose inhabitants work in the incense and frankincense industry.

The Governorate of Dhofar is characterised by the presence of many beautiful water springs, with some 360 springs extending over the mountain strip of the governorate, including Razat, Athum, Sahalnout, Jarziz and Hamran springs).