عين صحلنوت

Ain Sahlounout - Ain Sahlnot

Useful Information

Location:	Salalah, Oman. From Salalah follow 31 north, after 10 km turn right on road to Wadi Ghar, after 3.7 km turn right on small paved road to the parking lot of Ain Sahlounout. 500 m/10 minutes walk. (17.1482122, 54.1783788)
Open:	no restrictions. [2023]
Fee:	free. [2023]
Classification:	Tufa Deposits
Light:	n/a
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Ain Sahlounout.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

Description

عين صحلنوت (Eayn Sahlanut, Ain Sahlounout) is a spectacular formation of tufa, deposited by limestone rich water. The tufa deposit at the confluence of وادي غير (Wadi Ghayr, Wadi Ghair, Wadi Gir) and وادي صحلنوت (Wadi Sahlanut, Wadi Sahlnot) forms a barrier, which is most of the year dry, but during Khareef season (monsoon) in July and August the river is reactivated and a waterfall plunges into the plunge pool at the foot of the tufa wall. The tufa formations with its bulbous forms and some small stalactites is a result of limestone precipitation caused by temperature and the plants, which remove carbon dioxide from the water, and thus the water is not able to keep the limestone dissolved any more. Like always the locals interpret the plunge pool as a spring, which it is not. But it is a deep blue swimming pools for a short period. And there are several spots which actually have a connection to the groundwater and thus stay full of water even into the dry season.

The rest of the year it is dry, and the site is not visited by people who come for bathing. However, the rock formations are the same all year, and definitely worth a visit. They form small caves and shelters, and have a typical layered structure. There are paved trails, benches and even railings.