Ahmed Al-Hosni, a famous Omani photographer, recently published stunning images from the Empty Quarter (Rub' al Khali) in Oman that have attracted the attention of many internet users. These images appear to have been taken in a cold, snowy environment in the middle of the desert, while in reality, this scene is due to the presence of salt layers in the Umm al-Samim sabkha that became visible after the evaporation of water.
Ahmed Al-Hosni's Explanation About the Images
Ahmed Al-Hosni said about these images: "This area is not usually seen in this white color; rather, this phenomenon only occurs after rainfall and the flow of water in this region. After the water evaporates, white salt layers appear that enhance the beauty of the scene." He also pointed out that these changes are very rare and it may take years for similar conditions to occur again.
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Traveling to the Empty Quarter
Al-Hosni, due to the rarity of this scene, had to travel to this area three times to be able to capture these images. On his first visit, the area was heavily flooded, making it impossible for Al-Hosni to approach the desired location. He said: "During that trip, the scene looked more like a sea, and due to the high volume of water and the difficulty of the path, we could not reach our destination."
He referred to this phenomenon as a significant change in the landscape of this area and said: "Initially, large sections of this area are filled with water, and after the water dries up, white salt layers emerge that beautifully and astonishingly stand out in the desert space."
Al-Hosni also stated that using aerial photography technology with the help of a drone has helped him better depict the dimensions and expanse of this area. He added: "This method clearly shows the color differences between the white sabkha view and the remaining waters and surrounding sands."
For those planning to visit this area, Al-Hosni warned that this trip requires planning and caution and recommends not going there without the guidance of a person familiar with the area.
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