The Eastern Desert 

The Eastern Desert in Egypt, We call in the Arabic language as Al-Saḥrāʾ Al-Sharqīyah. Sometimes some resources mention its name as the Arabian Desert. It is in the southeast of the Nile River Delta.

Further, it extends southeastward into northeastern Sudan and the East Nile River Valley to the Gulf of Suez and the Red Sea Coast. It occupies an area of about 221,940 square km. The Eastern Desert consists of a sandy highland that rises abruptly from the Nile valley and merges some 80 to 137 km east of the Nile into the Red Sea Mountains. The plateau of the Eastern Desert breaks up into cliffs about 500 m.

It is high and deeply scored by wadis (Valleys). Therefore, its land is difficult to traverse. Outlets of some of the main Valleys form deep bays. Besides, it contains small settlements of semi-nomads.

Some Hills Of The Eastern Desert

Some hills of the Eastern Desert reach elevations of more than 1,900 m.  In addition, the most prominent feature is the easterly chain of rugged mountains, the Red Sea Hills. This elevated region has a natural drainage pattern that rarely functions because of insufficient rainfall. In general, this area is isolated from the rest of the country. There is no oasis in the region because of the difficulty in sustaining any form of agriculture. Except for a few villages on the Red Sea Coast, there are no permanent settlements.

The most famous of the Red Sea Mountains are Jabal Gattar, its permanent springs, and some vegetation (1,963 m). Jabal Shayib (Old Man Mountain) is the highest one in the region (2,187 m). Jabal Umm Anab is (1,782 m). There are some other important Mountains located in the Hala’ib Triangle. For example, Jabal Elba (Mount Elba) is 1,435 m high. Jabal Shellal is (1,409 m), Jabal Shendib (1,911 m) and Jabal Shendodai (1,526 m).

More Information

During most of the Egyptian history, the Eastern Desert used for its mines and quarries since Ancient Egyptian times The Ancient Egyptian extracted the copper from the Eastern Desert. Copper was the most common metal for everyday use in ancient Egypt. Copper ores were mined and melted in the eastern desert and in Sinai and today the most important resource of the iron and manganese. People used native gold for jewelry as early as first civilizations in Egypt. During the Old Kingdom, the Egyptians exploited mines in the Oriental Desert. At present, the Sukari gold mine is the most famous mine located 15 km west of the Red Sea coast and 23km south-west of the coast town Marsa Alam in the southern Eastern Desert.

There are three major National Parks and Protectorates within the Red Sea and Eastern Desert. North Islands Protectorate, located in the upper northern part of the Red Sea coast. Wadi Al-Jemal National Park, located in the most Southern part near to Marsa Alam. Finally, the third largest one and the best vegetated is Elba National Park situated in the Southeastern part of the Eastern Desert.