Wadi Shawka (literally 'powerful wadi') is a seasonal watercourse in the
Hajar Mountains of
Ras Al Khaimah
Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) ( ar, رَأْس ٱلْخَيْمَة, historically Julfar) is the largest city and capital of the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. It is the sixth-largest city in UAE after Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Al Ain ...
, in the
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates (UAE; ar, اَلْإِمَارَات الْعَرَبِيَة الْمُتَحِدَة ), or simply the Emirates ( ar, الِْإمَارَات ), is a country in Western Asia ( The Middle East). It is located at t ...
. Famous locally for the Shawka Dam, a renowned beauty spot and destination for outdoor sports, the
wadi
Wadi ( ar, وَادِي, wādī), alternatively ''wād'' ( ar, وَاد), North African Arabic Oued, is the Arabic term traditionally referring to a valley. In some instances, it may refer to a wet (ephemeral) riverbed that contains water ...
has long been an agricultural area and alongside existing farms, and many abandoned settlements exist on the sides of the wadi. The wadi enjoys unusually high rainfall of some 120mm per annum.
Extent
Wadi Shawka is a popular destination for off-road enthusiasts, hikers and mountain bikers as well as families attracted to the Shawka Dam, a developed rest area and picnic spot.
The wadi runs from the village of Khari, north of the village of
Shawka, to join the
Wadi Esfai and the
Wadi Ejili. A number of tourism companies and hiking groups offer hikes in and around the upper reaches of the Wadi Shawka.
The Shawka Dam was originally constructed in 2001, on the orders of
Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan, and overlooks a developed recreational area with a children's play area, washrooms, a family barbecue area and a number of pools.
The dam has a 275,000 cubic metre capacity and, with a height of 13 metres and a length of 107 metres, is considered one of the largest dams in the Emirates.
File:Shawka Dam - 2017-02-27.webm, Shawka Dam
File:Wadi Shawka Track.jpg, Wadi Shawka Track
File:Wadi Shawka looking North.jpg, Wadi Shawka looking north
File:Mountains of Wadi Shawka.jpg, Mountains view
See also
*
List of wadis of the United Arab Emirates
References
{{Ras Al Khaimah
Rivers of the United Arab Emirates
Geography of the United Arab Emirates
Geography of the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah