WHAT IS AN OASIS?
These hidden hubs sustain life in the desolate desert
WORDS AILSA HARVEY
An oasis is a contrasting area of land in an arid, inhospitable environment that is made fertile
by a freshwater source. Usually, this water comes from groundwater, called an aquifer.
Oases are places where plant life thrives, becoming refuges for desert animals and humans to find food, water and shade in the unforgiving heat of desert landscapes.
Some oases have natural springs that carry water up to the surface through fractures in the ground, while in other places the water-hydrating plant life is hidden underground. Humans have tapped into this water at many oases, building wells to bring the water above ground, accessible to those who live locally and visit them. Water often needs to be pumped up from below, but in some instances the pressure beneath is so great that the water naturally shoots up from the ground. This type of well is called an artesian well.