This trip requires a 4x4 vehicle.
The features of Khor Al-Udiad create a diverse scenery of exceptional, undeveloped natural beauty, in what remains predominantly a wilderness area. Each landscape unit on its own, the Arabian Gulf, large mobile dunes, the tidal embayment system, inland and coastal sabkha, recently discovered "salt hummocks", stony deserts, elevated mesas and rocky outcrops, as well as the transition between each of them, contribute to the unique character of Qatar's southern territory.
The Inland Sea area is a large tidal embayment with a convoluted shoreline, about 15 kilometres from north to south and up to 12 kilometres from east to west. It is connected to the Arabian Gulf by a relatively narrow, deep channel, about 10 kilometres in length. There is no comparable lagoonal system of this type known elsewhere in the world. The diverse water quality and bottom substrates create an exceptional variety of aquatic and semi-aquatic habitats of considerable importance for some endangered marine species, particularly turtles and dugongs. This area is also an important breeding ground for dolphins. Furthermore there are several valuable archaeological sites and a diversity of cultural heritage sites to be found in the area.
Khor Al-Udaid has recently been submitted as a World Heritage area.
In order to substantiate your visit and be able to claim this Earthcache, a number of questions need to be answered and submitted to the cache developer, via e-mail at cincolcc(at)gmail.com You can also post a photograph on the site with your log of you or your team and GPSr standing as per the sample photograph - standing on Ground Zero will produce a similar photograph as shown.
1. Looking SOUTH describe in your own words what the colour of the water of the Inland Sea
2. Looking South East from the spot you will see a large object in the water. Describe what you see.
3. NORTH of the location is a huge sand dune - estimate it's height. Better still, climb to the top and measure it with your GPS. The slide down again is worth the effort of the climb to the top!
4. Describe how the surface of the route leading from Sealine to Inland sea varies as you travel south. [There are 3 distinct surfaces that I am referring to.]
NOTE: You may log your visit prior to approval, but e-mail submissions that do not meet the above criteria will be deleted.
