A desert oasis is generally a lush, water-rich area in the middle of the desert. 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 there’s evidence someone else beat Richard to writing about it. Mention was made of a pond near a Pueblo, by a Spanish explorer in 1583. Some people believe this described Montezuma’s Well. 1,000,000 gallons of water flows into this well each day. At present, nobody has been able to trace the source of the water that flows into this oasis.
Many other restful types of places have taken on the name oasis. One such is the Desert Oasis RV Park and Sand Dune Resort in Idaho. The park is open from May through mid September. 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. They were formed by cooling lava. Wherever lava flowed, the caves now reach. A great amount of insulation is provided by lava. So these caves are cool even on the hottest summer days. It’s a good idea to wear a jacket there.
Many hotels also have the oasis name. One of these is in Scottsdale, Arizona – the Sheraton Desert Oasis. It’s located in the Sonoran Desert which provides a beautiful backdrop for the hotel. 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. Don’t forget to drink when you visit the desert.
So it seems an oasis can be many different things.
