oasis

oasis
oasitic /oh'euh sit"ik/, oasal, oasean /oh ay"see euhn/, adj.
/oh ay"sis/, n., pl. oases /-seez/.
1. a small fertile or green area in a desert region, usually having a spring or well.
2. something serving as a refuge, relief, or pleasant change from what is usual, annoying, difficult, etc.: The library was an oasis of calm in the hectic city.
[1605-15; < LL < Gk óasis (Herodotus) < Egyptian wh't oasis, oasis region]
Syn. 2. haven, harbor, retreat, shelter.

* * *

Fertile tract of land that occurs in a desert wherever a permanent supply of fresh water is available.

Oases vary in size from about 2.5 acres (1 hectare) around small springs to vast areas of naturally watered or irrigated land. Underground water sources account for most oases; their springs and wells are supplied from sandstone aquifers whose intake areas may be more than 500 mi (800 km) away. Two-thirds of the population of the Sahara live in oases, where the date palm is the main source of food; the palm also provides shade for growing citrus fruits, figs, peaches, apricots, vegetables, and cereal grains.

* * *

▪ geological feature
 fertile tract of land that occurs in a desert wherever a perennial supply of fresh water is available. Oases vary in size, ranging from about 1 hectare (2.5 acres) around small springs to vast areas of naturally watered or irrigated land. Underground water sources account for most oases; their springs and wells, some of them artesian, are supplied from sandstone aquifers whose intake areas may be more than 800 km (500 miles) away, as at Al-Khārijah Oasis (Kharga) and Al-Dākhilah Oasis (Dakhla) in the Libyan Desert. Two-thirds of the total population of the Sahara are sedentary peoples living in oases and depending on irrigation; these areas have temperatures conducive to rapid vegetative growth. In all Saharan oases the date palm constitutes the main source of food, while in its shade are grown citrus fruits, figs, peaches, apricots, vegetables, and cereals such as wheat, barley, and millet.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • oasis — oasis …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • OASIS — Historiquement, c’est sans doute à propos des oasis qu’ont été formulées les premières réflexions de nature géographique. On doit à Hérodote la première description de la plus grande et de la plus célèbre des oasis, l’Égypte. Oasis est d’ailleurs …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • OASIS — steht für: Oasis, englische Rockband aus Manchester Oasis (Iowa), Stadt in Iowa, USA Oasis (Kalifornien), Stadt in Kalifornien, USA Oasis (Nevada), Stadt in Nevada, USA Oasis (New Mexico), Stadt in New Mexico, USA Oasis (Wisconsin), Stadt in… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • OASIS — (homonymie) Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Oasis HD — logo Launched March 12, 2006 Owned by High Fidelity HDTV Slogan Love Nature Country …   Wikipedia

  • Oasis — (Иос,Греция) Категория отеля: Адрес: Kampos, Иос, 84001, Греция Описание …   Каталог отелей

  • Oasis 2 — (Нео Клима,Греция) Категория отеля: Адрес: Neo Klima, Нео Клима, 37002, Греция …   Каталог отелей

  • Oasis — (Ачитрецца,Италия) Категория отеля: Адрес: Via Gondar 43, 95021 Ачитрецца, Италия …   Каталог отелей

  • Oasis — (Лас Терренас,Доминиканская Республика) Категория отеля: Адрес: Avenida de Benelux, 32000 Лас …   Каталог отелей

  • Oasis — (Камараи,Греция) Категория отеля: Адрес: Agiou Symeon 14, Камараи, 84003, Греция …   Каталог отелей

  • oasis — (plural oasis) sustantivo masculino 1. Área: geografía Lugar con vegetación y agua en medio del desierto: Después de andar varios días a través del desierto, llegaron a un extenso oasis. 2. Uso/registro: coloquial. Situación o lugar agradable …   Diccionario Salamanca de la Lengua Española

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”