Gebel Elba
| Gebel Elba | |
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| جبل علبة | |
| Gebel Elba | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). |
| Coordinates | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Geography | |
 Gebel Elba
Location in Egypt
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| Location | Egypt |
Gebel Elba (Arabic: جبل علبة Gabal ʿElba Egyptian Arabic pronunciation: [ˈɡæbæl ˈʕelbæ], "Mountain Box") or Elba Mountain is a peak and, in general, includes the associated mountainous area in the Hala'ib Triangle area. Despite being claimed by both Egypt and Sudan, the area is currently under Egyptian control.
Geography
The higher peaks in the area are Gebel Elba itself (1,435 m), Gebel Shellal (1,409 m), Gebel Shendib (1,911 m) and Gebel Shendodai (1,526 m).[1]
Average annual rainfall in the region is less than 50 mm, but orographic precipitation in and around Gebel Elba itself amounts to as much as 400 mm. in the upper areas.[2] This phenomenon owes to the vicinity of the Red Sea coast (some 15–30 km east of the mountains) and also to the fact that the coast, slightly curved to the east at this point, presents an unusually broad front to the sea across a 20–25 km strip of relatively flat land[2] which facilitates interception of moisture-laden north-east sea winds.
This phenomenon is registered at its best in the northeast of the region, where Gebel Elba is located, which explains the fact that Gebel Elba receives higher precipitation than other coastal mountains in the range, including higher ones. Aridity gradually increases to the southwest of the area.[1]
Ecology
Gebel Elba's summit is a “mist oasis” where much of the precipitation is contributed in the form of dew, mist and clouds, creating a unique ecosystem not found anywhere else in the country. Indeed, Gebel Elba is a "biodiversity hotspot",[3] with a biological diversity unparalleled in any terrestrial environment in Egypt proper. The relative abundance of moisture supports a diverse flora of some 458 plant species – almost 25% of plant species recorded for the entire country.
Many Afrotropical elements have their northern limits at Gebel Elba,[2] and the dense cover of acacias and other scrubs represents the only natural woodland in Egypt. There is at least one endemic species of plant (Biscutella elbensis).
Gebel Elba National Park
The Gebel Elba National Park,[4] declared by Egypt in 1986, covers some 3,560,000 hectares,[1] including most of the disputed Hala'ib Triangle (except its westernmost corner), and an area of comparable size just north of it. It is also known to hold one of the latest wild populations of the Nubian wild ass.
References
External links
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