An Nafud

An Nafud

An Nafud or Al-Nefud or The Nefud (Arabic,صحراء النفود, ṣahrā' al-nefud) is a desert in the northern part of the Arabian Peninsula at 28°18′N 41°00′E / 28.30°N 41.00°E / 28.30; 41.00, occupying a great oval depression. It is 180 miles (290 km) long and 140 miles (225 km) wide, with an area of 40,000 square miles (103,600 km²).[1]

The Nafud is an erg, noted for its sudden violent winds, which account for the large crescent-shaped dunes. Rain comes once or twice a year. In some lowland areas, namely those near the Hejaz Mountains, there are oases where dates, vegetables, barley, and fruits are raised. The Nefud is connected to the Rub' al Khali by the Dahna, a corridor of gravel plains and sand dunes, 800 miles (1,287 km) long and 15 to 50 miles (24.1-80.5 km) wide.

Before the Battle of Aqaba (during the Arab Revolt) forces led by Auda ibu Tayi attacked the Turkish-held coastal town of Aqaba on its poorly-defended eastern flank, achieved by taking a long and wide desert route, passing close to the edge of the Nafud. Col. T. E. Lawrence asked Auda ibu Tayi to allow their group to stray from their course into the Nafud. Auda refused, because it was unnecessary.[2] Their harsh transit did not include entering the Nafud, as is depicted in the film Lawrence of Arabia.

References

  1. ^ Wright, John W. (ed.); Editors and reporters of The New York Times (2006). The New York Times Almanac (2007 ed.). New York, New York: Penguin Books. p. 67. ISBN 0-14-303820-6. 
  2. ^ Lawrence, T.E. (1926). Seven Pillars of Wisdom A Triumph (1991 ed.). New York, New York: Anchor Books. p. 250. ISBN 978-0385418959. 



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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Nafud — Nafud,   Wüste in Arabien, Nefud …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Nafud — [nə fo͞od′] desert in the N Arabian Peninsula: c. 180 mi (290 km) long; c. 140 mi (225 km) wide …   English World dictionary

  • Nafud — or Nafūd, An geographical name see an nafud …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Nafud — Lage der Nefud nördlich des Nejd Plateaus Die Nefud (auch Nafud; arabisch ‏صحراء النفود‎ Sahara an Nefud, DMG Ṣaḥrāʾ an Nafūd) ist eine Wüste im nördlichen Teil der Arabischen Halbinsel, in …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Nafūd, An- — ▪ desert, Saudi Arabia       desert, northern Saudi Arabia, covering about 25,000 square miles (64,000 square km). The reddish, sandy An Nafūd (Arabic: “The Desert”) is sometimes called the Great Nafud; it lies at an elevation of 3,000 feet (900… …   Universalium

  • Nafūd, An — geographical name see Nafud …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Nafud — noun a desert in northern Saudi Arabia that is noted for its red sand and violent winds • Syn: ↑Nefud, ↑An Nefud, ↑An Nafud • Instance Hypernyms: ↑desert • Part Holonyms: ↑Saudi Arabia, ↑King …   Useful english dictionary

  • Nafud — /na foohd /, n. See Nefud Desert. * * * …   Universalium

  • Nafud — Na•fud [[t]næˈfud[/t]] n. geg Nefud Desert …   From formal English to slang

  • An Nafūd — or Nafud geographical name desert N Saudi Arabia in N Nejd …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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