Empty Quarter @ National Geographic Magazine

Spilling across four Arab nations, the world’s largest sand desert has been defined as much by Bedouin tradition as by geography. Now oil and politics are changing the definition.

If you’re the least interested in the Empty Quarter, the huge sand desert that spreads across parts of Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, and the Emirates, the National Geographic has an article this month.

This area is truly amazing. Pictures do their “more-than-1000-words” business well. But they also miss a few things.

First is the utter silence, broken only by the wind. Second, and most incredible to me, is the scent. Frank Herbert was on to something with his Dune series and its “spice”.

Also surprising is that although it looks utterly barren on the macro level, when you’re actually in it you find lots of little scrub bushes. And by the bushes you find footprints of small lizards and birds, plus the occasional snake track.

The National Geo article is fine, as most are; the pictures are superb. The page linked above also has a link to a three-part collection of video clips as the photographers flew their ultralight aircraft over regions that appear to be mostly in the Emirates. [Hint: skip the first one unless you're really into ultralights.] A further link goes to a five-minute multi-media show that’s a bit light on content, but rich in images.

[Disclosure: My office at the Embassy was instrumental in getting clearances for the team to work in Saudi Arabia. That was nearly two years ago; National Geo has a huge leadtime for its stories.]