Empty Quarter

From ArticleWorld

The Empty Quarter also called as Rub’al Khali in Arabic, is located in the Arabian Peninsula. It is largest among the sand deserts of the world. It covers the countries of Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman and United Arab Emirates. The terrain is unsuitable for human inhabitation. Till 300 AD the desert was used by caravans for aromatic resin trades. Continuous desertification has made traveling across the desert impossible now. The first expedition to the interior region of the desert was done by Bertram Thomas in 1931. In 1932 St.John Philby explored the interior regions of the desert. Empty Quarter is part of the Arabian Desert and East Sahero-Arabian Xeric eco-region.

Topography

The Empty Quarter is one of the few places in the world where inhabitation is very less because of the topography and the climate variation. Temperatures fluctuate very widely in this region. In the morning it would be as high as 60 degree Celsius and at night it may go down to below freezing point. The sand dunes of Empty Quarter are very massive and are almost 1000 feet in height which is more than the Eiffel Tower of Paris. Most of the human inhabitation mainly comprising the Arab Nomad Groups is found only along the borders of the desert. Other inhabitations like Arachnids and rodents are found all over the desert. The difficult terrains of Empty Quarter make the journey through it very adventurous. With the help of Global Positioning System equipments, many adventurers trek through the desert.

Oil Reserves

Empty Quarter is one of the richest sources of oil in the world. Enormous oil reserves are found in this region. The largest oil field in the world, the Ghawwar field includes the northern parts of Empty Quarter.Sheyba is another important oil field of Saudi Arabia which is located in the center of Empty Quarter.