The Wadi Barut (Arabic: وادي باروت, romanized: Wādī Barut),[2][3] is a valley or dry river, with ephemeral or intermittent flow, flowing almost exclusively during the rainy season, located in the northeast of the United Arab Emirates, in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah.
| Wadi Barut Wādī Barut | |
|---|---|
 Wadi Barut, a tributary of the Wadi Ghalilah, in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah | |
  | |
| Native name | وادي باروت (Arabic) |
| Location | |
| Country |  United Arab Emirates |
| Emirate |  Ras Al Khaimah |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Northern slope of Jabal ar Rahrah (1,691 m) Hajar Mountains |
| • elevation | 1,430 m (4,690 ft) |
| Mouth | Confluence with the Wadi Litibah into the Wadi Ghalilah, at the Wadi Ghalilah Dam[1] |
• coordinates | 25°58′35″N 56°09′02″E / 25.97639°N 56.15056°E |
• elevation | 140 m (460 ft) |
| Length | 4.5 km (2.8 mi) |
| Basin size | 76.32 km2 (29.47 sq mi) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Wadi Ghalilah |
The Wadi Barut and the Wadi Litibah join to form the Wadi Ghalilah at their confluence. The Wadi Barut is formed mainly by the ravines and gullies that run along the northern slope of the Jabal ar Rahrah (1,691 m (5,548 ft)); along the western slope of Jabal Bil Ays / Jebel Jais (1,911 m (6,270 ft));[4] and along the eastern slope of a branch of the Jabal Ar Rahrah Ridge.[5]
Course
editAlong its route, from south to north, the different branches of the upper course of Wadi Barut cross a steep area, with very uneven terrain and little vegetation cover, which is almost impossible to access without climbing equipment and techniques, making it a little-known and rarely visited area, and an ideal natural space for the survival of some of the animal species threatened with extinction in this region of the Arabian Peninsula.
This feature of the area has aroused the interest of naturalists involved in conservation or management projects for natural areas and species, who have explored the place in search of traces that might allow them to detect the now improbable presence of arabian leopards (Panthera pardus nimr) and caracals (Caracal caracal), and to learn about the feeding habits of other wild mammals and their eventual prey: red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), Blanford's foxes (Vulpes cana), arabian tahr (Arabitragus jayakari), Arabian gazelle (Gazella gazella), etc.[6][7]
In the western part and in its middle course (much more accessible), the Wadi Barut crosses cultivation areas in terraces and farms built on terraces arranged on its steep slopes, grouped in the small villages of Dafalas (Dirat Dafalas),[2] Deira Al-Rakba,[8] Barut, Qa`az,[9] Abba,[9] Salajat and others, communicated through a donkey trail that runs between the dam of the Wadi Ghalilah (Wadi Ghalilah Dam)[1] and the Jabal Ar Rahrah Ridge.[10]
Very close to the village of Deira Al-Rakba, the three main branches of Wadi Barut join together and form several spectacular dry waterfalls, known as Wadi Barut Dry Falls.
In the area of confluence with the Wadi Litibah, to form the Wadi Ghalilah, there are also small farms on both banks of the wadi, which can be accessed via a road of stone and gravel. Those on the right bank are located at the foot of a large rock wall, 600 m high, called Barut Wall, valued by climbers as the longest climbing route in the country.[11][12]
Toponymy
editAlternative names are Wadi Barut, Wādī Barut, and Wadi Barun.[13][14]
The name of Wadi Barut was recorded in the documentation and maps produced between 1950 and 1960 by the British Arabist, cartographer, military officer, and diplomat Julian F. Walker during the work carried out to establish borders between what was then called Trucial States,[9] later completed by the Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom), on 1:100,000 scale maps published in 1971.[3]
In the National Atlas of the United Arab Emirates it also appears spelled as Wādī Barut.[2]
In the political and administrative organization of the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, the name of the main wadi is frequently used as an identifying element of the entire territory covered by its drainage basin.
In the case of Wadi Ghalilah, this drainage basin is very large 76.32 km2 (29.47 sq mi),[15] comprising numerous towns, villages and farms widely scattered throughout its valleys and mountains. Naturally, it also includes all the ravines and tributaries of the main wadi.
The same denomination is also used for postal purposes.[16]
For this reason, the mistake of considering that this is the only name that corresponds to all the different wadis, and even to some population centers in this region, is widespread, frequently ignoring the true name of each of these places.
This has contributed to the fact that Wadi Barut has also been incorrectly referred to as Wadi Ghalilah on a few occasions.
Population
editThe geographical area of Wadi Barut was historically inhabited by the semi-nomadic tribe Shihuh, section of Bani Shatair (Arabic: بني شطير), which occupied, among other territories, the tribal areas of Bani Bakhit and Banī Sā`ad.[17]
Gallery
edit-
Confluence area of Wadi Litibah and Wadi Barut (UAE), next to the Wadi Ghalilah Dam -
Cultivated terraces in the upper area of Wadi Barut - Dirat Dafalas -
Tributary of Wadi Ghalilah in the upper area of Wadi Barut - Dirat Dafalas
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b https://www.fao.org/aquastat/en/databases/dams Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture
- ^ a b c Jāmiʻat al-Imārāt al-ʻArabīyah al-Muttaḥidah. Geoprojects (U.K.) Ltd., The National atlas of the United Arab Emirates, Al Ain: United Arab Emirates University - 1993
- ^ a b Map FCO 18/1785 - 1971 - Map of Trucial States, Muscat and Oman - Rams - Scale 1 :100 000 - Published by D Survey, Ministry of Defence, United Kingdom (1971) - Edition 3-GSGS - The National Archives, London, England <https://www.agda.ae/en/catalogue/tna/fco/18/1785/n/1>
- ^ Peakbagger - Jabal Bil Ays
- ^ "The Barun Wall - 2011". www.summitpost.org. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
- ^ "Notes on the diet of red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and Blanford's fox (Vulpes cana) in the montane area of the United Arab Emirates. Canid News 6:4 [online]" (PDF). Stuart, C.T. and Stuart, T.D. 2003. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
- ^ "Diet of Leopard and Caracal in the Northern United Arab Emirates and Adjoining Oman Territory" (PDF). Chris and Mathilde Stuart - African-Arabian Wildlife Research Centre. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
- ^ "The start of the wheat harvest season in Ras Al Khaimah - بدء موسم حصاد القمح برأس الخيمة |". www.aletihad.ae (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-06-12.
- ^ a b c FCO 18/1895 - 1958 - Map - United Arab Emirates (UAE): Ras al-Khaimah - Published by D Survey, Ministry of Defence, United Kingdom - The National Archives, London, England <https://www.agda.ae/en/catalogue/tna/fco/18/1895/n/1>
- ^ "UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE) - Ras al-Khaimah (RAK) - Wadi Barut Hiking Trail. From Wadi Ghalilah Dam to Defels and North Col of Jabal Rahabah (Viewing Deck Park)". Wikiloc - Trails of the World. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
- ^ "UAE Climbing - 2005" (PDF). A Stark.Foordkelcey.net. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
- ^ "CLIMBS IN WADI NAQAB AND WADI GHALILAH - 2018". publications.americanalpineclub.org - Author: Peter Thompson. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
- ^ "Diet of Leopard and Caracal in the Northern United Arab Emirates and Adjoining Oman Territory - 2007" (PDF). www.stuartonnature.com. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
- ^ "Wheelers Wisdom VS - Wadi Barun - 2001". www.ukclimbing.com - Andy Chubb & Flaminio Poltronieri. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
- ^ United Arab Emirates - Water conservation strategy - Eng Salim Akram. Director of Dams Department. Dr Abdelazim Ebraheem. Water Resources Evaluation Consultant - Natural Disaster Science and Mitigation Engineering: Ministry of Environent and Water UAE - 2021
- ^ Postcode List for UAE<https://www.parcelforce.com/sites/default/files/AE%20Postcodes%20Aug19%20v1%20050819.pdf>
- ^ FO 371/132894 - 1958 Tribes of Trucial States coast - E F Henderson, Julian F Walker, M S Buckmaster - The National Archives, London, England <https://www.agda.ae/en/catalogue/tna/fo/371/132894/n/38>
External links
edit
Media related to Wadi Barut at Wikimedia Commons