A guelta (Arabic: قلتة, also transliterated ''qalta'' or ''galta'') is a pocket of water that forms within rock formations in the

Sahara Desert The Sahara (, ) is a desert spanning across North Africa. With an area of , it is the largest hot desert in the world and the list of deserts by area, third-largest desert overall, smaller only than the deserts of Antarctica and the northern Ar ...

and

Arabian Desert The Arabian Desert () is a vast desert wilderness in West Asia that occupies almost the entire Arabian Peninsula with an area of . It stretches from Yemen to the Persian Gulf and Oman to Jordan and Iraq. It is the fourth largest desert in the ...

. The term is of Arabic origin and specifically refers to oases that emerge in rocky landscapes in Arab regions, particularly in countries like

Algeria Algeria, officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It is bordered to Algeria–Tunisia border, the northeast by Tunisia; to Algeria–Libya border, the east by Libya; to Alger ...

and

Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in West Asia. Located in the centre of the Middle East, it covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula and has a land area of about , making it the List of Asian countries ...

A guelta is a natural water pool that forms in rocky basins and often serves as a crucial water resource in arid regions. It has been known in Arabic by other names, such as ''Waqb'' (a depression in the ground or rock). When multiple gueltas occur in close proximity, they are collectively called a ''Nadheem''. Gueltas are known for their ability to retain water for extended periods, sometimes throughout the year, especially if fed by springs. This makes them essential for survival in arid climates, where they can remain a source of water even during the dry season.

Examples

* Uthaithiah Guelta (''قلتة أثيثية'') –

Riyadh Province The Riyadh Province ( '), is a province of Saudi Arabia, located in the geographic center of the country and the center of the Arabian Peninsula. It has an area of and with a 2022 population of 8,591,748, it is the second-largest region by ar ...

* Sayadah Guelta (''قلتة صيادة'') –

* Guelta d’Archei (''قلتة آرشي'') –

Ennedi Plateau The Ennedi Plateau is located in the northeast of Chad, in the regions of Ennedi-Ouest Region, Ennedi-Ouest and Ennedi-Est Region, Ennedi-Est. It is considered a part of the group of mountains known as the Ennedi Massif found in Chad, which is o ...

Chad Chad, officially the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of North Africa, North and Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to Chad–Libya border, the north, Sudan to Chad–Sudan border, the east, the Central Afric ...

* Afilal Guelta (''قلتة أفيلال'') –

Tamanrasset Tamanrasset (; ), also known as Tamanghasset or Tamenghest, is an oasis city and capital of Tamanrasset Province in southern Algeria, in the Ahaggar Mountains. It is the chief city of the Algerian Tuareg. It is located at an altitude of . As of ...

References

* ''Al-Mu’jam Al-Waseet'' (Arabic Lexicon) * Likens, Gene E., ed. (2010). ''Lake Ecosystem Ecology: A Global Perspective.'' Academic Press, p. 269.

Examples

References

See also