White Desert National Park

"White Desert" redirects here. For the British tour operator, see White Desert (company).

White Desert National Park
Rock formations at White Desert National Park
Location in Egypt
Location	570 km (350 mi) southwest of Cairo
Nearest city	Qasr Al Farafra
Coordinates	27°16′38.41″N 28°12′1.59″E
Area	300 km2 (120 sq mi)
Established	2002

Sahara el Beyda, the White Desert Protected Area, is a national park in Egypt, first established as a protected area in 2002. It is located in the Farafra depression, 45 km (28 mi) north of the town of Qasr Al Farafra. Part of the park is in the Farafra Oasis (New Valley Governorate).

The park is the site of large white chalk rock formations, created through erosion by wind and sand. It is also the site of cliffs (at the northern end of the Farafra Depression), sand dunes (part of the Great Sand Sea), as well as Wadi Hennis and oases at Ain El Maqfi and Ain El Wadi.

White Desert National Park covers an area of 300 km² (120 sq mi). The highest point in the park is at El Qess Abu Said at 353 m (1,158 ft) above sea level, and the lowest is at Wadi Hennis at 32 m (105 ft).

The park serves as the refuge for various animals, including the endangered rhim gazelle and the vulnerable dorcas gazelle, as well as Barbary sheep; jackals; Rüppell's, red and fennec foxes; and the sand cat.

In popular culture

• In the Gathering Storm expansion pack released in 2019 for the turn-based strategy game Civilization VI, the Sahara el Beyda is featured as one of the Natural Wonders.

Gallery

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External links

• Ministry of Environment Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency - Natural Protectorates Description