How do they work
Blowholes are generally formed on the sea shores in limestone
caves. These caves grow inwards and have a hollow structure that
extend to the top of a cliff or vertical structure present on the
shore. As the sea waves hit these caves in the bottom, its pressure
throws water and air out through the holes, through the tunnels and
channels present in the caves. Dont confuse these with Whale's
nostrils (also called as blowholes), although they are also a vent
for the water to be thrown upwards in the open.
Geology of Al Mughsayl Region
Al Mughsayl is part of Dhofar region that has limestone rocks
all along the its coastal region. These limestone rocks are the
deposits from ocean that flooded most of Arabia once. These rocks
extended North from coast to Rub Al Khali, the empty quarter, where
they disappear under the sand. What we find in Dhofar is mostly
young limestone layers from Tertiary and Cretaceous
period. Cretaceous period ran between
145.5 – 65.5 million years ago
and Tertiary is referred to a period between 65
million to 1.8 million years ago.
Much of the Dhofar coast is divided in west and east valleys due
to a fault that runs parallel to the coast. In the Monsoons aka
Khareef season, the wadis are flooded and the water travels from
West to East before disappearing in the sea. The point
where these wadis meets the Arabian Sea is known as Khor or Khawr.
There are Khors at many different places along the coast in Dhofar
region. One of them being Khor Mughsayl. Here one can observe
around 150 species of birds both from land and sea. This place is
declared as one of the 9 natural sanctuaries for bird and wildlife
under a Royal decree.
There are 3 large mountain masses which extend east from Yemen
to Southern coast of Oman. The highlands from the Yemen border
to about Mughsayl are called Jabal Al Qamar: To the east of
Mughsayl is Jabal al Qana that goes on to north of the Salalah
Plain, and Jabal Samhan forms the massive highland north of the
Marbat Plain.
Blowholes at Al Mughsayl
Blowholes at Al Mughsayl are present on a long stretch of sandy
beach that extends for 6 kilometers in length from Wadi Mudam
almost to Wadi Aful, with Wadi Ashawq in the center. They lie next
to Jabal al Qamar. The road from Salalah city, descends down
towards Wadi Mudam on way to Al Mughsayl, and runs parallel to the
beach between a mountain front on the north and the beach on the
south. Eyes meet a broad coastal plain, which are a kilometer wide,
and it continues westward until it is cut off by limestone cliffs
that descend to the sea and towards the blowholes. Just next to the
blowholes is a huge olistolith rock (slip block) that forms an
overhang known locally as the Marneef Caves. South side of these
caves completely opens to the sea. These caves provides shelter to
the tourist visiting the blowholes from
the scorching summer heat. As you walk from car park
to ground zero, you have to traverse your way through these caves.
These caves are similar to what Blowholes are made of.
These blowholes are one of the major tourist attractions in
Salalah. Sea water blown out of the holes can reach upto heights of
30 meters if the weather conditions are right. The location offers
spectacular scenery as you stand on top of the cliff and see the
waves hitting the caves in the bottom and be ready to be blown by
water and air under your feet.
Below is view from cache location.
To reach the cache site, you need to turn left if coming from
Salalah town to Al Mughsayl.
Coordinates for this turn is:
N 16° 52.883' E 53° 46.530'
There is a car park available 200 m away from the blowholes.
Coordinates for this car park is:
N 16° 52.615' E 53° 46.074'
The walk from the car park to the blowholes is relatively easy
through a man made stone pathway. Bring water with you in summers
as it can become hot and humid. There is a coffee shop available
near the car park.
This is a virtual cache and there is no container on the cache
site. In order to substantiate your visit, you need to send answers
to below questions and your photo with GPS at Ground Zero
(optional).
You can send them using the Send message option in cache
developer's profile.
1) Describe color and formations of Marneef caves ?
2) How many blowholes you can count in the vicinity?
3) How do you describe the sound coming from Blowholes ?
4) According to you, what will happen to these blowholes with
long passage of time?
Below is sample picture at the blowholes.
You may log your visit prior to approval. Your pictures at GZ
can be posted with your log. Make sure you submit your answers via
email and not reveal your answers in your log, otherwise they will
be deleted.