The beauty of the universe unfurling over the Hisma desert, 90 km west of Tabuk, is sure to enthrall tourists as the lights of neighboring towns fade into the background.
The Saudi Press Agency has revealed that the Hisma desert is home to unusual rock formations known as masabih and gharamil, which are found beneath a canopy of stars that twinkle in every direction.
Professor and geology specialist Abdulaziz bin Laboun told the SPA in an interview that the unique rock formations are the outcome of millions of years’ worth of erosion processes.
“This geological wonderland, estimated to be over 500 million years old, has been created by natural sculpting, forming a landscape of rare aesthetic beauty that is hard to find anywhere else in the world,” the man stated.
“Hisma’s distance from intense artificial light pollution makes it a perfect place to watch passing meteors, comets, stars, and galaxies as night falls.”
Majed Abu Zahra, president of the Jeddah Astronomical Society, argues that the region’s increasingly popular “astro-tourism” is drawn to this alluring natural setting.
“Astro-tourism represents a fresh approach to the various forms of tourism, combining forces with leisure, health, and cultural travel, to name a few,” he clarified.
The Milky Way galaxy is the focal point of Hisma’s celestial show. Nestled in one of the spiral arms of the galaxy, our solar system is around 8,000 light years away from the galactic center.
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