Many people think that Al-Ain is like any other town in the Emirates, like Fujeirah, Masafi or Sharjah. In reality? it's much more unique than that.
Let's start with the zoo. Is the zoo just for kids? Think you've seen it all? or that zoos are pathetic institutions which cage the poor wild animals in a confined space? Think again. The Al-Ain zoo is nothing like that. It contains animals from the Middle East continent to the African continent. We saw huge ostriches, extremely pink flamingoes and furry sheeps with antlers and beard.
In one area, the compound was so big that you'd think you were visiting a safari in the wild. Zebras gallopped happily against the backdrop of blue lakes and hills, while deers and giraffes roamed around without a care in the world. The lions were so healthy as they devoured a thick piece of meat. In fact, they seemed more healthy than the lions we met in Tanzania. It conveyed the idea that for animals, life doesn't get any better than this. This, is the ultimate place to be. If an animal were hunted, injured and orphaned, this would be a perfect refuge.
On desert slopes, green grass multiplied miles and miles across. Young ferns creeped up fences, cone shaped pine trees decorated the roadsides, and colourful flowers were present in every roundabout and kerb.
Flamingoes
Arabian Oryx
Ibex
Barbary Sheep
Wow... Can you spot the Zebra?
Look! Leopard!
Healthy Lion!
Jebel Hafeet, one of the highest mountains in the UAE, offered a superb view too! As we stood from the top, one could see that the land was tremendously flat, despite the formation of anticlines and hills. When you looked down, you'd see dried up angular, paths, which used to be a river or channel flowing through the valley. One could see houses and hotels built on the edge of these hills, as we drove up the winding roads.
Wow... and all these are carbonate rocks? My team petrophysicist tells me that carbonate rocks formed from corals will have high porosity and lots of fossils. Those without visible fossils and low porosity, will most probably have been deposited in deepwater, formed mainly by microorganisms, due to limited sunlight.
Now, were these rocks formed in deepwater? or shallow waters?
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| Overlooking Oasis & Plains + Channel in the Valley |
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| Carbonate! Vugs, Caves, Pores.... |
Look at this! Layers and layers of Carbonate....
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| House on the Edge of the Hills |
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| See anything? |
It's the Mountain Range!
Winding Roads Up the Hills
View of the Hills from the Valley
Ah... Al-Ain is a beautiful city indeed. If you're in the UAE, this is a must visit place. Don't cross it out of your list just yet.
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