23-Dec-2019 -- This is the 16th out of 21 successful revisits plus 2 unsuccessful attempts on unvisited confluences in Saudi Arabia. The story starts at 28°N 48°E and continues from 21°N 41°E.
We visited this confluence point on our way from Al Bahah to Tanomah. After a drive of two hours, on the minor roads 3699 and 2221, asphalt ended. We still had 20 km to go on gravel. The road was very beautiful: we went all the way along a lonely wadi with acacia trees. Right at the end of the valley, we reached a t-intersection which was covered with nice asphalt. This intersection was just 300 m from the confluence.
We parked at the asphalt road in 260 m distance and walked to the confluence over a hill. On top of the hill, we could enjoy a great view down in the valley. We also could see our car and houses for the workers of the nearby Al Hajar Mine. The confluence was then a bit down on a flank covered with basalt boulders and scattered bundles of plants.
After visiting the confluence point, we could enjoy driving on asphalt for only one kilometre, then we had again a rough dust road of 20 km until we reached the village Shawas. We then continued on various mountain roads, where we got chased by apes.
CP Visit Details:
- Distance to a road: 260 m
- Distance to a track: 260 m
- Distance of car parking: 260 m
- Time to reach the confluence from the car: 10 minutes
- Time at the confluence: 1:15 AM
- Measured height: 1607 m
- Minimal distance according to GPS: 0 m
- Position accuracy: 3 m
- Topography: mountainous
- Vegetation: small bundles of herbs and grass
- Weather: sunny, 18° C (felt temperature)
- Given Name: The Sudden Asphalt Confluence
The story continues at 19°N 42°E.
More pictures of the trip can be found here.