There is evidence to support the theory that Farafra binds the entire Western Desert together. It had little to offer Pharaoh, Caliph, or King, remaining isolated for centuries; yet it is on the way to everywhere. If you are in the deep desert, Farafra is always nearby

The Farafra depression, carved out of Upper Cretaceous Khoman Chalk, looks like a draped ghost with its right kicking a spur of the Great Sand Sea. Spanning 90 kilometers (56 miles) east-west and 200 kilometers (125 miles) north-south, it is the second largest depression in the Western Desert. It sits at E27 20 and E 28 59 longitude and N 26 18 and N 27 42 latitude.

The escarpment rings the depression on three sides. The eastern scarp, standing 244 meters (708 feet) high, and the Western scarp are both steep-sided, formidable barriers. The dazzling white northern scarp, although lower, is actually two scarps, one behind the other. The southern part of the oasis is open. The depression floor comprises a mixture of white chalk and limestone which creates the White Desert, black iron pyrites and marcasite stones which create the Black Desert, scrub land, mud lions, and many sift dunes. South to Dakhla, the dunes spread for over 150.5 kilometers (93.5 miles).

There are three major mountains in Farafra. Two bear the same name, Gebel al-Gunna. The first is 10 kilometers (6.25 miles) northeast of Qasr, just to the right of the main road. The second is 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) south of Qasr along the road to Bir Dikker. The third, Twin Peaks, is a major landmark. It sits to the southeast of the road just below the main descent into the oasis from Bahariya.

Perhaps the most outstanding mountain features in the Western Desert are the white chalk inselbergs, a 20 kilometer (12.5 mile) long series of free standing hills, all steep-sided but of various sizes, that look like icebergs standing in front of the northern escarpment.

After 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) the famous and beautiful white chalk of Farafra Depression comes into view. Prominent steep-sided hills, standing alone and rising from the level plain, they continue along the escarpment to the northwest (right) of the main road for 20 kilometers (12.5 miles). White, and of a considerable height, the inselbergs rise majestically in this area and together with the white Desert, comprise one of the most unique natural wonders of Egypt. It is hoped that they will someday be the centerpieces of a National Park.

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