Oases are places in the midst of a hostile environment where ground water emerges, enabling human, animal and plant life to survive. An oasis can be a small pool encircled by date palms, or it can be a source of water for entire towns. What oases all have in common is the importance of water as a “source of life”.
There are two types of oasis: the classic oasis, which is fed by ground water that has collected at the bottom of a valley between mountain slopes and forces its way upwards, and the so-called foggara system, found all over the world, which draws its life-giving water via a network of underground tunnels that are fed from a distant source.
It is only through active cultivation that oases become thriving cultural landscapes. By tradition, oases rely on a three-tier system of cultivation. On the first level, grain, vegetables or fodder are grown; on the second level, low trees such as figs or orange trees, while the third level is dominated by the date palm – the ultimate symbol of the oasis.
Dates are rich in carbohydrates, calcium, iron and protein. Their potassium content is higher than that of bananas and they contain more roughage than wholemeal bread. No wonder, therefore, that dates were once the basic food at oases and were a valuable export item, contributing to a community’s economic livelihood. They also promote sleep. To sleep well, it is said, Arabs eat five dates before retiring at night.
The date palm was cultivated as long ago as 6000 BC and is one of the oldest cultivated crops. It can grow to a height of 30 metres and bears abundant yields: up to 60 kg of dates per tree, The date palm is ideal for desert regions because the hotter the sun and the drier the air, the better it thrives – and therefore the sweeter its fruits.
Myrtle is derived from the Greek myron, which means balm or a fragrant juice. However the juice is not its only appeal. The evergreen shrub with its white blossoms is also a joy to behold. And its little dark berries give wild game dishes their aroma. The hard wood of the myrtle is used for marquetry. And not least, myrtle in the Middle East is a symbol of peace.
In the past, oases were important trading centres. Whether it was caravans of traders with their camels or caravans of pilgrims on the way to holy places – they all stopped at oases for food and water. Oases were also of great importance as trading places for nomads and farmers. Today tourist traffic and agricultural goods ensure their economic survival.
