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Those who visit the White Desert are
totally fascinated by the strange forms of the chalk formations.
This desert may easily be also called “the calcium desert” since
these forms are the result of the calcium carbonate (the chalk)
erosion by the wind. It seems that at its origins, about 45
millions year ago, the White Desert was part of a deep sea that
held a huge deposit of chalk (calcium carbonate). The sea was
covered with volcanic material and sand layers and the soft
materials were eroded by water in its attempt to create caverns.
In the end, these materials that covered the sea disappeared and
the remaining chalk was eroded by the wind and transformed into
the weird formations that can be admired today. Among the soft
rocks are some intermittent deposits that contain remains of the
old seabed shells, sponges, as well as remains of the worm
casing. This last one represents the organic material which was
replaced by the minerals brought by the volcanic material. The
actual calcium deposits are large and high, giving those people
who are in the white Desert the impression of an “out of planet
world” where the snow, the ice and the warm temperatures
coexist. In the White Desert, the big quantities of chalk are
spread around and the red and yellow sand covers the chalk
formations in big or small parts. From the ground the deformed
and large structures looking like some stalagmites arises. All
these things make you think that you are in science-fiction
movie's scenery. The view becomes even more spectacular in the
sunset, due to the clouds and the colors. So, if you want to
take a visit to the fascinating Egypt, maybe you will include
the “calcium desert” in your trip, for a lifetime experience. |
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