Al-Gharameel

Al-Gharameel is a desert area north-west of AlUla in Saudi Arabia, known for a group of slender natural rock pillars that stand singly or in clusters above a flat, mostly dark-coloured plain.

The shapes are the result of erosion. Over long geological periods, wind and rain removed the softer parts of the rock and left the harder parts standing. The site lies far from settlements and city lights and is not reached by paved roads, so it is usually visited by four-wheel-drive vehicle with guides who know the desert tracks.

Al-Gharameel is especially known as one of the best places in the region for watching the stars. Its dark sky and clear air allow the Milky Way to be seen plainly on suitable nights. Evening trips are organised to the area, and these often include sitting around a fire and listening to explanations of the stars and of how they were once used for navigation and travel in the desert. The place is valued by photographers and amateur astronomers, and it illustrates the variety of geological formations found in the north-west of the Arabian Peninsula.