Produced by: Manoj Kumar
Beneath Arabia’s Empty Quarter, scientists discovered vast ancient lakes—remnants of a time when monsoons turned the desert into a green paradise, as revealed by satellite data and sediment analysis.
A breached lake triggered a cataclysmic flood, carving a 150-km valley through the desert. This reshaped the landscape in a geologic instant.
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Between 11,000–5,500 years ago, Arabia bloomed with rivers, lakes, and savannas. It was one of the most climate-rich phases in the region’s history, supported by monsoonal shifts.
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What looks like barren sand hid a giant, water-carved valley. This 150-km formation maps a forgotten world, invisible until uncovered by a global team of geoscientists.
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African monsoon rains once drenched the Arabian Peninsula, creating lush ecosystems. These rains nurtured plant life, wildlife, and human settlements across the now-desolate terrain.
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The ancient lake spanned 1,100 square meters and reached 42 meters deep—a far cry from today’s dry, cracked ground. Its disappearance marks the stark environmental shift 6,000 years ago.
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Hunting and gathering communities once flourished along these water bodies. Archaeological finds trace their migrations, driven by the rise and fall of this fertile phase.
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As rain vanished around 6,000 years ago, the lush world shriveled. Populations moved out, and deserts claimed what was once vibrant and green.
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This discovery rewrites the story of Arabia’s past—proving deserts can hide thriving ancient worlds, only revealed by cutting-edge science and global collaboration.
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