Traveling in the Sinai the acacia is the most common desert tree.
More than 1300 different species of acacias are known. Acacias found in the Sinai desert are Acacia albida, Acacia tortilis and Acacia iraqensis. The acacia is an evergreen tree that grows on sandy soils in dry climates. The leaves eaten mostly by camels; the ripe fruits used as cattle feed.
It is believed that the tree migrated to the area with the camels that journeyed from Central Africa to the Sahara and Sinai. The camels carried the seeds in their stomachs, which were then passed out with the dung, reaching the earth eventually to establish a new habitat.This type of tree consumes a lot of water in its cycle but has adapted to the dry atmosphere of Sinai in many ways. It produces thorns that reflect sunlight, reducing evaporation. These thorns are usually found in pairs but if you find a single thorn, it can be broken off to reveal the little worm that lives inside.
On approaching the tree you can see the gum which is extracted and used for glue. The local Bedouin use its wood to produce charcoal.
Goat herd women use a long hooked stick to bring down dry wood for fire, leaving the green wood. They shake the branches to allow small leaves to fall for the goat kids.
Attempts to make the tree grow at the same rate as it does in the savanna by providing it with more water have failed.
The tree has adapted itself to Sinai by having a very slow rate of growth. A common sight in the Sinai valleys is a folded Bedouin tent hung from an acacia tree, ready for use on the owners' return. In Bedouin culture, any item hung from a tree belongs to someone and should not be touched.
Acacia Trees tap water sources deep underground, with roots that can reach as far as 25 metres and help sustain the Bedouins in times of drought. However, the water table in the Sinai Desert has fallen significantly in recent years and because of this, acacia trees are struggling to survive and their numbers are dropping dramatically. As this happens, so the number of Bedouin able to continue their traditional way of life in the desert declines.
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