Oman’s amazing overnight transformation from arid desert to breathtaking rainforest has been revealed in a series of photographs.
The once-a-year sensation, which is known as the Salalah Khareef, or the Salalah Monsoon, transforms a huge tract of land seemingly overnight into a picturesque emerald haven for locals and animals – including hundreds of camels.
It takes place for three months a year, from the end of July to the beginning of September, and sees average temperatures drop from a scorching 50 degrees to a cool 20.
A man photographs a friend in the rainy valley of Wadi Darbat, Oman, during the period which sees the land covered in greenery
Camels rest upon the grass – a rare site which people can see when the monsoon arrives for three months a year in Oman
The Green Pool in Wadi Shab, which can be found among Oman’s desert canyons, has its water coloured by limestone springs
Camels wander in the water following the monsoon – which sees temperatures drop from a high 50 degrees to a cool 20 overnight
The Wadi Bani Khalid (above) is an oasis in the desert and is filled with huge amounts of water during the short cool weather period
Green, green grass: A woman can be seen taking a break from herding sheep and cows near the Yemen border
The dry conditions nine months of the year means that Salalah does not have permanent lakes or running rivers – but during the monsoon waterfalls can be seen flowing over the cliffs.
