English Mountain in Bahariya Oasis

       We all agree that every name tells a story on the light of this, let me take you in a short journey to the past to know more about the history of the Baharya Oasis and The English mountain. The English mountain is one of the most charming Places at Bahariya Oasis and is also considered one of the wonderful places in Egypt, ‘English Mountain’ was given its name due to the British Forces occupying the region during the 1st World War in 1916 and was a reconnaissance Post in Bahariya Oasis. It was their residence and there are some remnants of their buildings there. On top of the Mountain are ruins which help identify it from a distance. The High point of the Mountain meant that troops under the command of Captain Williams could spot any forthcoming advances from Libyan troops who would regularly attempt invasions at the Oasis around this time. As there has been volcanic activity in this region, the Mountain has a distinct top covering of basalt and diorite. 
 
      Now we can move to know more about the history of The “Bahariya Oasis” the name of the Bahariya is originally taken from the Arabic word "Bahr" which means "Sea" in the English language to be more specific, this name is coming from the Mediterranean Sea and the Northern lands of Egypt in old ages. It also had many other names over the ages, for example; The old Egyptians called the Bahariya Oasis "Desdes" while the Romans named it "Parva" or the little oasis.
 

         Bahariya feels like the first real desert oasis in Egypt. You reach it after a four or five hour’s drive from Cairo along a well-made road that sees a bit of tanker traffic but little else. There is only one stop en route-a barn-like tea house-after 150km (and a smaller one about 10km further on) and that is it. It was on the right-hand side of the road, in the direction of Wadi Natrun, that French Flyer Antoine de Saint Exupery crashed in 1935. Surviving on a half-pint of coffee and an orange Exupery survived- and later wrote about the experiences in the marvelous desert book ‘‘Wind, Sand and Stars’’. 

Being relatively near to Cairo Bahariya has attracted a number of foreigners over the years in search of peace and desert freedom. They have started or been involved with, the several eco-spiritual companies springing up with safaris tailored to match the growing breed of travelers out to do more than stand and stare. 
 
 
      It's a nearly oval valley extends from northeast to southwest, has a length of 94 km, a maximum width of 42 km and covers an area of about 2000 km². The Oasis which is located in Giza governorate is surrounded by mountains and has more than one spring.  Bahariya involves many villages “El Bawiti” is the largest and the most important of all the villages. The Oasis is inhabited by the descendants of the ancient people who used to live there many years ago; part of those people is Bedouin tribes originally from Libya and the north coast and the other part is from the Nile Valley who came to settle in the oasis.
 
      During the Middle Kingdom and especially during Roman times, the oasis used to be center of agriculture, producing wine which was sold in the Nile Valley and it was also exported to Rome. Its strategic location between on the Libya–Nile Valley caravan routes ensured it prospered also throughout later ages. In recent years, stunning archaeological finds, such as that of the Golden Mummies, and easy access to the White and Black Deserts have earned Bahariya a firm spot on the tourist map. Bahariya has been inhabited for many centuries and it was here that the so-called “Golden Mummies” were unearthed a few years ago.
Some of the mummy cases can be seen in the museum in Bawiti which you drive past on the way in. There are shops selling most things- here you can buy your Bedouin scarfs and rugs. Additionally, there are Hot and Cold Springs of Bahariya Oasis, Bahariya Oasis if famous for its numerous hot (and by hot we mean 45°C/113°F) and cold springs. As with all springs in the Western Desert of Egypt, the mineral content is high and the water can stain your swimwear.
 
      The Baharya Oasis has also played a very important role during the World war I, as they built "Baharia Military Railway" to provide access to the Oasis. Within the past years, many changes were made in the Baharya Oasis; the Egyptian government has made an asphalt road connecting Bahariya to Cairo which was finished in the early 70s, this road helped to supply the Oasis with electricity, cars, television, phone lines, a more accessible connection to Cairo, and, even Internet. The exchange of people and ideas between Bahariya and Cairo has increased rapidly since the construction of that road. As a result of all the above, the language people living in the Oasis has been changed and was highly influenced in new ways as the dialect of the people living in Cairo which is heard on television and in music.

    It’s not all you can see in the dessert as there are many other beautiful Oasis that you must visit in the same area of the Bahariya, for instance; The Black Desert which is 50 kilometers (31 miles) south of Bahariya Oasis. The Crystal Mountain which is locally known as Gebel Al-Izzaz, is an enormous hunk made up of sparkling quartz crystal, and Gebel al-Dist Gebel al-Dist or Pyramid Mountain is a local landmark with an iconic pyramid-shaped form.