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The four main fieldworks in North Africa, where I made researches in oases. In chronological order (and we should add the Hadramawt in Yemen): the region of Tassili n’Ajjer (Djanet) in Algeria, the Jerid (Tozeur, Degache, Nefta, etc.) in Tunisia, the wadi Draa (Zagora) in Morocco and Siwa in Egypt.
Political and climatic map of North Africa
Published on
12 March 2005
- Updated on
8 January 2025
Forum posts
Hello, I am conducting preliminary research for a science fiction novel based in the Sahara. I am in need of a description for a location in my story. The location needs to have the following characteristics:
Roughly 1 day ride from nearest oasis. Oasis should be not overly busy. (Is there such a thing as an oasis that is not overly busy in today’s world?)
The location itself should be in an area not frequented by many travelers, but only several hours from a recognizable landmark. That is, no significant quantity of traffic, but one of the characters will need to be able to recognize where he is after seeing this landmark. Landmark should not be a tourist attraction, but simply something recognizable to people who frequent the trade routes.
This location should be either in Egypt, or at a location that an Egyptian character would not have trouble getting to it.
This location comes into the story as follows:
Traveler is moving along a route that is not commonly used, and has just left the oasis mentioned above. He is caught in a sudden sandstorm and loses his bearings. He wanders for several days until he locates something at the location I am looking for. After leaving the location, he still does not know where he is, but finds landmark within several hours, which tells him where he is. He makes his way back to oasis and continues his original journey.
I could always just invent a fictional location, but would prefer to be at least plausible that this is a real location..
I can be reached at pfarabee mw.net, if anyone can supply information or a reference to a source for more research.