Wadi al-Hitan in Egypt

The blue sea with its big waves, huge whales swimming in its depths... But wouldn't you be surprised to see whale skeletons in the scorching desert, devoid of all these sights? Yes, such a wonderland is Wadi al-Hitan in Egypt. This place, called the 'Valley of the Whales', is a reminder of an ancient sea that existed here thousands of years ago.

Wadi al-Hitan is located about 150 kilometers southwest of Cairo. This area, completely surrounded by desert, has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This area helps scientists understand the evolution of life on Earth, especially how whales moved from land to sea. The fossils found here are estimated to be about 40-41 million years old.

The biggest mystery of this desert is the whale skeletons found here.  Unlike regular whales, they have the remains of their legs behind them. These tiny legs are evidence that their ancestors lived on land. These fossils belong to whales named 'Basilosaurus' and 'Dorudon'. Their complete skeletons help researchers a lot in studying their way of life.

The story behind these whale legs is very interesting. These were once creatures that walked on four legs on land. Later, through various stages of evolution, they moved to the sea, and their legs became less important. Over time, they either disappeared completely or only existed as small remnants. The fossils in Wadi al-Hitan are a crucial link in this evolutionary process.

There is also a clear explanation for how whales arrived in this desert in Egypt. In the past, a large sea, the 'Tethys Sea', existed here.  The whales of Wadi al-Hitan lived in this sea. Over time, due to geological changes in the Earth, this sea retreated and the areas turned into deserts. As a result, the remains of the creatures that were under the sea were left in the desert.

The soil and rocks of this area protected these fossils. Natural phenomena such as wind and rain helped to preserve them from destruction. They were preserved in soft sand in a way that scientists could easily excavate. That is why such complete skeletons were found here.

In addition to whales, fossils of many other marine animals have been found in Wadi al-Hitan. The remains of sea turtles, crocodiles, snakes, and fish can also be found here. These discoveries provide more information about the deep-sea ecosystem that existed here in the past. These discoveries are clear indications that a complete marine world existed there.

 One of the major discoveries in this area is the fossil of a creature known as the 'Serpinacrean Siren'. It is believed to be the skeleton of an ancestor of elephants. These discoveries help us to better understand the evolutionary relationships of various species on Earth.

This area, once ravaged by waves, is now a silent desert. Despite this silence, the skeletons hidden under the sand tell us stories from millions of years ago. Wadi al-Hitan is a great textbook for understanding the history of the Earth and the evolution of life on it.

Wadi al-Hitan is more than just a tourist attraction, it is a secret chamber of the Earth that is useful for researchers and students alike. This valley of whales is an important page in the evolutionary history of living things. These mysterious fossils in the desert will always remind us of the Earth's past.