Desecrating the desert - Secret Dubai

And the wadis.

At Hatta Pools, the litter after a Friday is appalling. Cans, bottles, plastic bags, even unfinished food left unwrapped on the ground, swarming with flies. One can even find used children's nappies strewn around the rocks near the water.

It is quite true what Secret Dubai says about the desecration of the Hatta Pools. That Hatta Pools may be the best of natural beauty in the UAE. Or is it in Oman? Most of the visitors come from the UAE side, but it's located across the border in Oman. I suspect the pools would be better cared for if the economic benefits from them and their location lay on the same side of the border.

No one on the pools and the governments have not taken up the role of ensuring they are not abused. I imagine that before the car there was no problem, and the people of the village adjacent to the pools took care of them. But not anymore. The easy access by outsiders has shattered that mechanism.

UAE Off-Road Explorer writes this: "The Hatta Pools are well known and visited, so unfortunately they suffer from the same fate as other popular spots - litter and graffiti. [And trampled flora.] The local authorities clean the area from time to time and you can, of course, do your part by leaving with everything, or even more than you arrived with." Even if your vehicle is only 2 wheel drive, the Explorer is a great guide to own. It's available in many hotel shops and book shops in Dubai.

My photos posted throughout this blog are edited for content. That is, I frame the photo to leave out any trash. Occasionally I resort to Photoshopping out the trash - though I've not shared any of my Photoshopped efforts on this blog.

Thanks to The Eclectic Econoclast for the pointer.