Sand dunes and water rarely meet and complement each other. But when they do, the sight is uniquely beautiful. This equation can be found in the Qassim province at Al-Nabqiyah Lake, or Rawdat Muhanna (The Garden of Muhanna), where the founder of Saudi Arabia King Abdul Aziz fought his most famous battle.
Due to the unusual heavy rains that hit central Saudi Arabia last week, this garden has been transformed into a lake crowded by revelers. It is bustling with people seeking to see the “real mirage” — a nature’s gift in the middle of the desert where water is embracing the golden sands of Najd.
The Garden of Muhanna lies 45 km east of Buraidah on the outskirts of a small village called Al-Nabqiyah, which neighbors the great sand dunes of Al-Asyah.
Sightseers from across Qassim and its neighboring regions, such as Sudair and Riyadh, are making the most of this unique phenomenon.
Of late, the road to Al-Nabqiyah has witnessed a massive flow of traffic with hundreds of cars packed with families heading toward the water body. “It is very hard to make your way driving in the sand dunes among such a large number of cars,” said Ahmad Al-Bahooth, a desert enthusiast who was camped at the site.
“I have chosen to camp at a high place on a golden sandy mountain to enjoy the beautiful scene,” he said with excitement and added that the scene would not last long as sand quickly sucks up water.
“There is a valley full of rainwater near almost every town of Qassim but to have a place where you can find water next to the sand is extremely rare,” said Ayyad Al-Harby, a resident of Asyah who was picnicking with his children. “We have always pictured sand dunes without water. Here, they embrace each other! This is what makes the scenery breathtakingly beautiful,” he added.
Joyriding is a dangerous sport that many youths indulge in close to the natural lake. “It is extremely dangerous to drive in the sand dunes. These young men are spoiling it for us,” said Abdulaziz Al-Saawy, a Saudi from Buraidah who had come with his family.
Some enterprising souls found the gathering a perfect opportunity to make a quick buck. Some have set up grocery stores to sell basic commodities such as water, vegetables and fruit. “We are making a considerable profit here compared to our shops down at the village,” said one vendor.
Al-Shumasiah Municipality has also mobilized its resources to provide services to picnickers and campers.
It has stationed some of its staff at a designated area in front of the park. Municipal workers can be seen removing garbage and clearing roads.
“People here need awareness programs on how to dispose of their waste and not throw rubbish on the ground,” said one municipal supervisor at the site. “The volume of garbage is relatively high,” he added.
