| Gebel Elba | |
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| جبل علبة | |
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Gebel Elba
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| Elevation | 1,435 m (4,708 ft) |
| Location | |
| Location | Egypt |
Gebel Elba (جبل علبة) or Elba Mountain is a peak and, in general, includes the associated mountainous area in the Hala'ib Triangle area. This area, despite being claimed by Sudan, is currently under Egyptian control.
The higher peaks in the area are Gebel Elba itself (1,435 m), Gebel Shellal (1,409 m), Gebel Shendib (1,911 m) and Gebel Shendodai (1,526 m).[1]
Average annual rainfall in the region is less than 50 mm, but orographic precipitation in and around Gebel Elba itself amounts to as much as 400 mm. in the upper areas.[2] This phenomenon is caused due to the vicinity of the Red Sea coast (some 15–30 km east of the mountains) and also to the fact that the coast, slightly curved to the east at this point, presents an unusually broad front to the sea across a 20–25 km strip of relatively flat land[3] which facilitates interception of moisture-laden north-east sea winds.
This phenomenon is registered at its best in the northeast of the region, where Gebel Elba is located, which explains the fact that Gebel Elba receives higher precipitation than other coastal mountains in the range, including higher ones. Aridity gradually increases to the southwest of the area.[4]
Gebel Elba's summit is a “mist oasis” where much of the precipitation is contributed in the form of dew, mist and clouds, creating a unique ecosystem not found anywhere else in the country. Indeed, Gebel Elba is a “biodiversity hotspot”,[5] with a biological diversity unparalleled in any other terrestrial environment in Egypt. The relative abundance of moisture supports a diverse flora of some 458 plant species – almost 25% of plant species recorded for the entire country.
Many Afrotropical elements have their northern limits at Gebel Elba,[6] and the dense cover of acacias and other scrubs represents the only natural woodland in Egypt. There is at least one endemic species of plant (Biscutella elbensis).
The Gebel Elba National Park,[7] declared by Egypt in 1986, covers some 3,560,000 hectares,[8] including most of the disputed Hala'ib Triangle (except its westernmost corner), and an area of comparable size just north of it.
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