Traditionally known as the Libyan desert, the Western
Sahara lies on the west side of the Nile valley and
on the east of the Libyan border line. Sahara is the
Arabic word for desert. It is important to note that
the Western Sahara is not the Great Sahara near the
center of Africa.
The Mediterranean coast of Egypt runs 1200km, from
Rafah on the border with the Gaza Strip to Salum at
the Egyptian-Libyan border. Inshore the land slopes
more or less steeply depending on where it is along
the coastline. The 100m depth of the water is closer
to the shore to the west and the distance gradually
increases to the east.
Due to its relatively high rainfall, the coastal belt
that extends from Alexandria west to Salum, is characterized
by the richest and most diverse flora in Egypt except
for that of Gebel Elba.The dunes of white sand by
the sea are followed further inland by limestone ridges
separated by wadis in some of which salt marshes are
found. Inland of these is a relatively flat strip
of hamada (sand and clay interspersed with exposed
rocky surfaces). The Diffa or Marmarika plateau posseses
a semi dry coastal environment, unlike the hyper-
arid interior of the Egyptian Sahara further to the
south. This habitat supports a myriad of flora and
fauna.
The people of this zone graze their livestock here
and practice small-scale agriculture, growing dates,
olives and figs among other crops. In addition there
is considerable tourism development along this stretch
of coast.
