CANYON COUNTRY
David Bellamy is inspired by light of the Middle East
North-west of the town of Al Hamra lies Wadi an Nakhar , the Grand Canyon of Oman , one of the most spectacular landforms in the country . The wadi begins low down as a narrow breach in the mountain . Sheer rock walls of ochres , oranges and reds rise on either side , in places allowing stunning views of the crags and buttresses higher up the cliffs , their features softened by the dizzying height while the wadi itself displays luxurious vegetation that offers some relief from the sheer wildness of the rock scenery . Deep pools of still water re�lected these images . I spent hours sketching here , enraptured by the sublime scenes .
The wadi climbs into the vastness of the mountain until it opens out to its full grandeur , best viewed from high up on the rim of the plateau some 2,000 metres altitude . Vertical cliffs plunge over a thousand metres to the bottom , the immensity of the place taking our breath away . On the far side Jebel Shams rose to some 3,048 metres , the highest mountain in Oman , its soaring ridges festooned with jagged pinnacles , cliffs riven with enormous gullies , framing one of the most sublime mountain scenes in Arabia . Here and there juniper and wild olive trees softened the harshness of the rugged grey-green karst scenery , but not a shred of cultivation punctuated the supreme savagery .
This vast sublimity would truly hearten the brush of Salvator Rosa ( 1615-1673 ) the Italian painter renowned for the utter horridness of his rock-strewn scenery , often peopled by bandits and characters of the most savage countenance . As we hiked on each step brought new gasps of astonishment and wonder . A couple of goats attached themselves to us , presumably hoping my rucsack was full of goat-goodies .
12 outdoor focus / summer 2022
Oman Grand Canyon