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the Degree Confluence Project
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Saudi Arabia : al-Riyād

41.6 km (25.8 miles) E of Banbān, al-Riyād, Saudi Arabia
Approx. altitude: 695 m (2280 ft)
([?] maps: Google MapQuest OpenStreetMap ConfluenceNavigator)
Antipode: 25°S 133°W

Accuracy: 27 m (88 ft)
Quality: more pictures needed

Click on any of the images for the full-sized picture.

#2: GPS reading #3: Desert taxi pool #4: Manager's office #5: Fuel for the desert ships #6: Rest for the expedition members

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  25°N 47°E (visit #1)  

#1: The confluence point

(visited by Gerhard Henrich, Norbert Schlipkoether, Ugur Tayli, Elfi Loew, Helmut Loew, Anni Langenfeld, Erich Langenfeld, Murat Tayli, Edith Gosewinkel, Udo Gosewinkel, Elisabeth Henrich and Renate Schlipkoether)

26-Oct-2001 -- After the breathtaking heat vanished from the Arabian Peninsula, desert foxes come out of their air-conditioned residencies again and hit the remote areas in search for new confluence points.

So, we set off on 26 October for the 25N 47E point, not far outside the capital of Riyāḍ in direction of north-east. We, those are the families (in alphabetical order) gathering an international group of explorers: Udo and Edith Gosewinkel, Gerhard and Elisabeth Henrich, Erich and Anni Langenfeld, Helmut and Elfi Loew, Murat and Uğur Tayli with kids, Norbert and Renate Schlipkoether.

The trip was under bright sun and GPS system led us after about 50 kilometres' and 45 minutes' driving to the area of the confluence point. We followed the highway out of Riyāḍ in direction of Dammām to the east and then headed to the north on a new road towards Rumāḥ.

After some 10 kilometres we turned to the desert, right towards the position. The area is quite flat and as we approached closely, we saw a herd of white camels inside a fencing. What a good sign! The only concern was that we had to fix the point inside that fencing. Lucky we were, it was right next to it. So, we performed our fixings and after taking some pictures of the white desert ships, we forwarded to a place in the north, since there is not much of interest around. The trip took us down again the escarpment on a very narrow, steep and tumbling track into a remote wādiy (valley). After cruising around, we decided to settle under a huge acacia tree and to consume the culinary delicacy our wives had prepared for survival.

At the late afternoon, and enjoying the beautiful colours of the nature given by the setting sun, we headed home again from that successful expedition.


 All pictures
#1: The confluence point
#2: GPS reading
#3: Desert taxi pool
#4: Manager's office
#5: Fuel for the desert ships
#6: Rest for the expedition members
ALL: All pictures on one page