The spectacular mountains and wadis of South Sinai take up approximately one-third of the peninsula. At the heart of these mountains is the St Katherine Protectorate in which the highest peaks in Egypt are found. The highest mountain is Gebel Katherina (2641m). The mountains are seamed with wadis that drain eastward to the Gulf of Aqaba or west to the Sahl El Qa and the Gulf of Suez. Although rainfall averages just 62mm annually, it occasionally exceeds 300mm on the highest peaks where it falls principally as snow. It is the only place in Egypt where there is snow in the winter and the temperature can fall to as low as -10°C.
As with other mountain terrain in Egypt, flash floods often denude the narrow wadi bottoms of vegetation. Despite this, the relative abundance of precipitation and a number of springs in the wadis support a rich diversity of plant and animal life including more than 50% of all the plants that are endemic to Egypt. Among the endemics is the endangered Sinai Rose, Rosa arabica. A plant that is rare in Sinai but is not endemic is Rubus sanctus; traditionally the Burning Bush of the Bible.
The Sinai Rosefinch, Carpodacus synoicus, which
in spite of its name has its main area of distribution
in Central Asia, and Tristram's Grackle, Onycognathus
tristramii, are found, in Egypt, only in this region.
The Lammergeier, Gypaetus barbatus, is becoming
increasingly rare throughout its world range but probably
breeds in very small numbers here.
The Ornate Spiny-tailed Lizard, Uromastyx ornata,
which inhabits rocky slopes and mountains, is a smaller
and more brightly colored relative of the Dhab
or Egyptian Spiny-tailed Lizard, Uromastyx aegyptia,
an inhabitant of sandy plains and wadis. The Sinai Banded
Snake, Coluber sinai, and Hoogstraal's Cat
Snake, Telescopus hoogstraali, are endemic
to Sinai. Also here, is the extremely poisonous Palestine
Mole Viper, Atractaspis microlepidota, which
is undoubtedly the most dangerous snake in the region
and is not found elsewhere in Egypt.
The Garden Dormouse, Eliomys quercinus, is
an attractive member of the local fauna and is sometimes
called the Bandit in reference to the black mask over
the eyes. This attractive little dormouse belies its
appearance by being rather aggressive and is well prepared
to defend itself with its sharp teeth. Although Blanford's
Fox, Vulpes cana, has been known from further
east (Pakistan and Iran among other countries) for a
long time, this beautiful, small, bushy-tailed fox has
only been known to be in the Sinai since the early 1980s.
A small population of the Wolf, Canis lupus,
has recently been documented in the region. The very
rare and endangered Sinai Leopard, Panthera pardus
jarvisi, may still be extant in very small numbers.
As well as its rich fauna and flora, South Sinai has
a wealth of cultural and religious history including
the site of St Katherine's Monastery, which has been
occupied by Christians since at least the early fourth
century. It has been suggested that Wadi Feiran may
have been the home of the Amalekites of early Biblical
times.
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