Gebel Elba at 1437m is far from being the highest of the group of mountains that overlooks the Red Sea but because of its unique attributes it is the most important area for flora and fauna in Egypt and is the centerpiece of the Elba Protected Area, which covers an area of approximately 35,600km² in the most southeasterly corner of Egypt.
Although rainfall on Gebel Elba averages only 50mm,
its location facing the sea and its elevation increases
annual precipitation to as much as 400mm on its upper
reaches. Moist air from the Red Sea condenses on the
peak of the mountain creating a mist oasis in which
much of the moisture is dew and mist. The coast curves
slightly to the east at this point, thus Gebel Elba
presents an unusually broad front to the sea across
a 20 – 25km strip of relatively flat land. The
whole of the mountain is dissected by small wadis; these
drain into larger wadis that eventually debouch into
the plains below. Wadi Yahameib and Wadi Aidieb drain
the north and northeast flanks of Gebel Elba and several
species of Acacia form dense woods in their lower reaches,
supported by the moisture from above. On its southern
side the principal drainage is into Wadi Serimtai, which
is characterized by open Acacia scrub.
The amount of available moisture is reflected in the
flora and fauna on this mountain, which has the richest
biodiversity of any area of comparable size in Egypt.
A surprising number of the species found on Gebel Elba
are not found anywhere else in Egypt and are mostly
formed of Afrotropical elements for which this mountain
is the northernmost limit. The flora consists of nearly
500 species, of which cryptogams (ferns and mosses)
are fairly common at higher elevations. Among these
are the delicate Anogramma leptophylla, which
can be found in shady rock fissures and the well-known
Maidenhair fern, Adiantum capillus-veneris,
distinguished by its polished black stipes (stems) and
delicate fronds. This little fern grows near water in
warm temperate and sub-tropical areas of the world and
was used by the Ancient Greeks to treat coughs. At least
one species of plant (Biscutella elbensis)
is endemic. The Ombet tree, Dracaena ombet, is found
in Egypt, only on the higher slopes of Gebel Elba. The
Ombet is a rather small tree related to the famous Dragon
Tree of the Far East and when its rosettes of sword-like
leaves are crowned with 30cm-long clusters of pink flowers
it presents a truly dramatic appearance.
The Gebel Elba Snake-eyed Lizard, Ophisops elbaensis,
is a strikingly colored lizard that was originally thought
to be endemic to Gebel Elba but has since been found
in the Arabian Peninsula. In Egypt it is restricted
to this area as is Dodson's Toad, Bufo dodsoni.
The deadly Saw-scaled Viper, Echis pyramidum,
is also found in the area.
Two of the mammals found in the area, the Zoril, Ictonyx
striatus, and the Aardwolf, Proteles cristatus,
are sub-Saharan species. The Barbary Sheep, Ammotragus
lervia, which was thought to be extinct in the
Eastern Desert has recently been found to be extant
in the area and in recent years fresh pugmarks of the
Leopard, Panthera pardus pardus, have been
seen. The mountain has been identified by BirdLife International
as one of the Important Bird Areas (IBAs) of Egypt due
to the high proportion of breeding birds found there.
Many of these birds are either Afrotropical species
or have disappeared from their former range in North
Africa and the Middle East. Among them is the attractive
red-breasted Rosy-patched Shrike, Rhodophoneus cruentus,
which is found nowhere else in Egypt. .
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