oasis

An oasis is a fertile area in a desert or semiarid region where groundwater reaches the surface or where moisture allows the growth of vegetation. Oasis environments are sustained by springs, seeps, or aquifers that supply water for plants, animals, and human use. They typically host water sources such as wells or streams and support vegetation such as date palms, shrubs, and crops in otherwise arid terrain. The presence of water and shade creates microclimates that differ from the surrounding desert.

Oases form through various geological and hydrological processes, including natural springs, faulting that taps underground reservoirs, and man-made irrigation systems such as wells or underground channels. Their size and productivity depend on rainfall, groundwater recharge, and how groundwater is managed. They are sensitive to drought, over-extraction, and climate change, which can reduce water tables, shrink vegetation, and lead to desertification around the perimeters.

Geographically, oases occur in arid regions worldwide, with notable concentrations in the Sahara, Middle East, and Central Asia. Historically they served as hubs for caravans and settlements, enabling trade, agriculture, and cultural exchange. Examples include the Siwa Oasis in Egypt and the Faiyum, Kharga, and Dakhla oases in the Western Desert, as well as oases along the caravan routes of the Arabian Peninsula and Central Asia.

In popular usage, the term Oasis refers to other things, notably an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991.