Desert Oasis
Everyone knows the image of a desert oasis. It can be something as simple as a small pond filled with water after a rain, to a cavern into which water constantly flows such as is found at Montezuma’s Well in Arizona. They can serve as a much needed escape from the heat and dry air.
Richard J. Hintin first spoke of Montezuma’s Well in his Handbook to Arizona published in 1878. But it may have been discussed in print long before that. Mention was made of a pond near a Pueblo, by a Spanish explorer in 1583. Many think he was describing Montezuma’s Well and Montezuma’s Castle. This sinkhole into a cavern receives a constant flow of 1,000,000 gallons of water daily. At present, nobody has been able to trace the source of the water that flows into this oasis.
Oases have lent their name to other places where people rest. Idaho’s Desert Oasis RV Park is an example. It opens for five months a year beginning in May. 72 campsites and miles of sand dunes make for a fun and exciting combination.
The caves near the Desert Oasis RV Park have a remarkable origin. Lava cooled into tubes to form these caves. They snake underground for miles and miles, going wherever the lava was able to flow. A little known fact is that lava is a great insulator. That keeps the caves cool even in the summer. Visitors are reminded to bring jackets.
Other popular recipients of the oasis name are hotels. Arizona’s Sheraton and Desert Oasis for example. The Sonaran desert is its home. There is a lot to do there. There are activities such as rodeos and horse shows nearby, as well as art galleries and museums. And of course there’s the desert to explore. Make sure to bring water.
The modern world has certainly changed the definition of oasis.
