Fan-shaped aprons of alluvial debris rim the horizon, relieved by palm oases, ethereal smoke trees and feathery tamarisk.

Palm Canyon Trail runs along a stream through the largest native palm oasis in North America.

Coffin, Mopah, and Mohawk Springs, natural palm oases, are popular hiking destinations.

"Which suggests to me that at one point there was a palm oasis here, too," Ari replied, stooping to pick up the statue and turn it over in his strong hands.

Today due to urbanization and ground water depletion, palm oases are retracting and disappearing.

Increased agriculture irrigation needs of well water has lowered aquifers which decreases or stops water availability at seeps and springs in palm oases.

For toddlers, however, a warm stream flows from the palm oasis, a stream that we suspect is partly septic runoff.

Nizwa lies on a plain surrounded by a thick palm oasis and some of Oman's highest mountains.

The palm oasis, dense and widespread, is irrigated by a network of pipes and irrigation canals.

We learned there had been a fire in the palm oasis.