Jebel Hafeet
| Jebel Hafeet (Al Ain) | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,249 m (4,098 ft) |
| Coordinates | 24°03′31″N 55°46′39″E / 24.05861°N 55.77750°ECoordinates: 24°03′31″N 55°46′39″E / 24.05861°N 55.77750°E |
| Geography | |
 Jebel Hafeet (Al Ain)
|
|
| Location | Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates |
| Cultural Sites of Al Ain (Hafit, Hili, Bidaa Bint Saud and Oases Areas) | |
|---|---|
| Name as inscribed on the World Heritage List | |
An alley at the Al Ain Oasis
|
|
| Location | United Arab Emirates |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | iii, iv, v |
| Reference | 1343 |
| UNESCO region | Arab States |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 2011 (35th Session) |
Jabal Ḥafeeṫ (Arabic: جبل حفيت, translit. Jabal Ḥafiṫ) (variously transscribed Jabal, Jabel and Jebal and Hafit or Hafeet - literally "empty mountain") is a mountain located primarily in the environs of Al Ain, which itself is in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in the UAE. Part of the mountain straddles the border with Oman, while the summit is located wholly within United Arab Emirates.
The Jebel Hafeet is about 26 km long and 4-5 km wide, extending from north to south. The range is asymmetric and in the eastern part is much steeper (25 ° -40 °) than the west side.
The mountain rises 1,249 metres (4,098 ft) and offers an impressive view over the city. Jebel Hafeet was a well-known landmark throughout the area's history and is a contemporary tourist attraction. An extensive natural cave system winds through Jabal Hafeet.
It is often incorrectly labelled UAE's highest mountain (as it is certainly the most well-known); this honor actually belongs to Jabal Jais, a 1,925 m/ 6315 ft. mountain in Ras Al Khaimah and is the UAE's highest named peak. Roadworks to reach the peak are now complete.
The mountain is composed of many distortions of individual layers of rock rich in fossils of plankton, while at the foot of the mountain it's possible to find various marine fossils (such as coral or crabs).
The Jebel Hafeet is crossed by a system of caves, some of which have been explored to a depth of no more than 150 meters. In the caves there are stalagmites and stalactites well preserved. Access to the caves is partly natural, while in other parts of the city of Al Ain the entrance is blocked.
At the foot of Jebal Hafeet lies the "Green Mubazarrah", which is a major tourist attraction: several hot springs flow into small streams and form a lake, while pools and hot tubs are spread throughout the area.
On the mountain it has been osserved the yellow bloom of Acridocarpus orientalis.
The caves of Jebal Hafeet are a natural habitat for a wide range of animals, including bats, foxes, snakes and rodents similar to hyraxes. The lizard Acanthodactylus opheodurus, which until 1982 was considered extinct in the UAE, has been observed in the area. Among the birds, there is the greatest biodiversity of the whole country: a study counted 119 species of birds. Finally, they have been cataloged about 200 different insects and 23 species of butterflies.
...
Wikipedia