Oasis

Lore & Background

Oases develop in hydrologically favored locations with a high water table, seasonal lakes, or blockaded wadis. They are made when sources of freshwater irrigate the surface naturally or via man-made wells. Continuous human work and know-how are essential to maintain such ecosystems. Rain showers provide subterranean water to sustain natural oases. Substrata of impermeable rock and stone can trap water and retain it in pockets, or on long faulting subsurface ridges or volcanic dikes water can collect and percolate to the surface. Any incidence of water is then used by migrating birds, which also pass seeds with their droppings which will grow at the water's edge forming an oasis.

In Their Own Story

The sun dips below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of violet and burnt orange as the beat drops. In this imaginary oasis, the air shimmers with heat haze and the scent of saltwater. Two silhouettes stand on a floating platform surrounded by bioluminescent waves, their voices weaving together to create a spell that makes time stand still. There is no tomorrow here, only the rhythm of the present, echoing through the palm fronds as the crowd dances in unison.

Reader's Guide

People who live in an oasis must manage land and water use carefully. The most important plant in an oasis is the date palm, which forms the upper layer. These palm trees provide shade for smaller understory trees like apricots, figs, olives, and peach trees, which form the middle layer. Market-garden vegetables, some cereals, and/or mixed animal fodder are grown in the bottom layer. The fertility of the oasis soil is restored by cyclic organic inputs of animal origin. An oasis palm grove is a highly anthropized and irrigated area that supports a traditionally intensive and polyculture-based agriculture.

Did You Know?

• The word oasis came into English from Demotic Egyptian; the Coptic word is wahe or ouahe meaning a 'dwelling place'.
• There are 90 major oases within the Sahara Desert.
• Morocco has lost two-thirds of its oasis habitat over the last 100 years due to heat, drought, and water scarcity.