The Fascinating Valley of Whales (Wadi Al Hitan) in the Fayoum Oasis

Fascinating Valley of the Whales (Wadi Al Hitan)

If you thought that you'dyou've seen most of the stunning attractions in the world, you got to travel to Egypt and check out this so-called Valley of Whales. Situated about 150 km south of Egypt's capital, Cairo, this valley is a part of the Fayoum Oasis. Also known as Wadi Al Hitan, the valley is more popularly known as the Valley of the Whales since skeletons and fossils of this giant mammal can be seen at this place.
It is a vast area of pure desert, but it can be fascinating the way gargantuan skeletons of dead whales are strewn around here and there. Besides, the site of fossilized rocks (which were once whales) can be both terrifying and stimulating. UNESCO has rightly lent this oasis heritage status and is a protective land. Efforts are made to make sure that things remain pristine. Humans are not permitted to alter things in any way. So, the animals that roam about the place (chiefly the desert animals like Egyptian Deer and Red Fox) are not killed or harmed. The dunes shift places with the wind, sometimes shielding a skull or two and other times revealing a new dead bone.

Other Animal Fossils

Apart from whales, the place is also infested with fossils and skeletons of other sea animals like sharks. One may muse whether this desert was once a sea, probably thousands of years back. At the same time, the scientific community feels that these pre-historic animals make for an excellent study for observing the cycle of evolution. Probably, they were land animals once. But to brood over all that, you must travel to Egypt and get to this intriguing place.