QATAR: Khor al Udeid
Some of the world`s great natural attractions are sought out by people
seeking a meaning to life. Natural wonders such as Uluru, the great monolith
in Central Australia, Niagara and Victoria Falls -all worshipped by ethnic
peoples - have become famous tourist destinations in their own right. Khor
al-Udeid in the Arab Gulf state of Qatar is one of these awesome, mystical
places. Covering 12,000 ha, the vast tidal inlet, also known as the `inland
sea`, cuts into the desert from the Gulf coast near the border with Saudi
Arabia. Measuring 12 km from east to west, the khor is a magic region of
turquoise channels bordered by soaring desert dunes. The tide surging in and
out sweeps up quantities of fish - sea turtles have been sighted far from
the mouth - while its inland reaches provide a breeding ground for
crustaceans. Significant numbers of water-birds winter in the swampy
shallows of the khor. Flamingos, cormorants, gulls and the Caspian tern are
all sighted there. Commercial fishing was banned in 1993 when the site was
declared a sanctuary and anxious to preserve its pristine beauty, the
government has outlawed all construction there. Tourists seeking at least a
temporary escape from the stresses of modern life, will find comfort in the
silence of Khor al-Udeid, accessible
by 4-wheel drive, 78 km south of Doha.