The Environmental Atlas of Abu Dhabi Emirate

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L IWA D UNES B ARCHANOID D UNES & I NTERDUNAL S ABKHAS

The arc of the Liwa oasis stretches for nearly 100 kilometres from east to west, providing a stark contrast to the surrounding desert. Due to the availability of water, the area has been settled for many centuries and continues to support a thriving population today. The red dunes and large sabkhas at Liwa are unique landforms in the region.

Barchanoid Dune and Sabkha The red mega-dune is over 150 metres high with a large sabkha in the foreground.

Sabkha

Qatar

A r a b i a n G u l f

Abu Dhabi

Dunes

Al Ain

Sabkhas Between the massive barchanoid dunes of Liwa, inland sabkhas form where the underground water table meets the Earth’s surface. Near-surface evaporation increasingly concentrates salts until a hal- ite crust develops, forming an imperme- able layer on the surface. These sabkhas may be up to 5.5 km 2 in area.

23°15'N

23°15'N

Sabkha

Oman

L I WA

Saudi Arabia

Liwa Dunes Location Map

Liwa Dunes The red mega-dunes at Liwa are some of the highest and oldest in the region. Rising to 150 metres, they record a long history of geo- logic transformation that is hidden beneath the surface. Through alternating geologic periods characterised by changing climate that ranged from relatively arid to humid, the dunes were formed by sand deposition and dune cementation. Some of the ancient sands that formed these dunes were deposited up to 141,000 years ago.

23°N

23°N

Dunes and Sabkhas Inset Series

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10 Kilometres

53°30'E

53°45'E

54°E