Wadi Sifuni
{{Short description|Wadi in UAE}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Wadi Sifuni
| native_name = {{native_name|ar|وادي إصفني}}
| name_other = Wādī Iṣfani
| name_etymology =
| image =
| image_size = 300px
| image_caption =
| image_alt = Alt text for image
| map =
| map_size = 300px
| map_caption =
| map_alt = Alt text for map
| pushpin_map = UAE#Persian Gulf#West Asia
| pushpin_map_size = 300
| subdivision_type =
| subdivision_name =
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = {{UAE}}
| subdivision_type2 = Emirate
| subdivision_name2 = {{flagcountry|Ras al-Khaimah}}
| length = {{Convert|25|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| source1 = On the eastern edge of the watershed, 700 meters south of Jabal Bulaydah.{{cite web |publisher=National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) |title= Jabal Bulaydah GNS:id -782683|url=https://geonames.nga.mil/geonames/GeographicNamesSearch/|access-date=2024-06-08}}
| mouth_place =
| source1_location =
| source1_coordinates=
| source1_elevation = {{Convert|734|m|ft|abbr=on}}, approximately (Wadi Baqarah).
| mouth = Confluence with the Wadi Ashwani / Wādī Al ‘Ishwānī, near the village of Kadrah (Ras Al Khaimah)
| mouth_location =
| mouth_coordinates =
{{coord|25|11|41.41|N|56|00|25.7400|E|region:AE|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation = {{Convert|192|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| progression = Wadi. Intermittent flow
| river_system = Wadi Sifuni & Wadi Ashwani
| basin_size = {{Convert|216|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}
| tributaries_left = Wadi Mamduh, Wadi Esfai.
| tributaries_right = Wadi Baqarah (upper segment of the main wadi).Feulner, G.R. (2024). The Mountain Regions of the United Arab Emirates: An Ecosystem Perspective. In: Burt, J.A. (eds.) A Natural History of the Emirates. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-37397-8_6
| custom_label = Custom label
}}
Wadi Sifuni ({{langx|ar|وادي إصفني|Wādī Iṣfani}}) Jāmiʻat al-Imārāt al-ʻArabīyah al-Muttaḥidah. Geoprojects (U.K.) Ltd., The National atlas of the United Arab Emirates, Al Ain : United Arab Emirates University - 1993FCO 18/1792 1970 Map of Trucial States, Muscat and Oman - Masafi - Scale 1:100 000 - Published by D Survey, Ministry of Defense, United Kingdom (1971) - Edition 3-GSGS - The National Archives, London, England
Together with the Wadi Ashwani /Wādī Al ‘Ishwānī, their combined drainage basin covers {{Convert|216|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}, bordered to the north by that of the Wadi Siji, to the south by the Wadi Shawka, and to the south and east by the drainage divide of the mountain range separating the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman basins, as well as the catchment area of the Wadi Farfar.Application of a hydrological model in a data-poor arid region catchment: a case study of Wadi Ham - Mohamed Mustafa Al Mulla PhD Thesis
Academic Year 2005-2006 - Supervisor: Dr Ian P. Holman - December 1, 2005 - Cranfield University at Silsoe - Institute of Water and Environment
The entire Sifuni & Ashwani drainage basin, whose highest peak is Jabal Al Ghunah ({{Convert|1020|m|ft|abbr=on}}), contains approximately 270 independent streams, most of them unnamed, all classified into five grades or levels according to the Horton-Strahler numbering. In addition to Wadi Baqarah, which is considered an upper segment of the main wadi, Wadi Mamduh and Wadi Esfai are notable for their length and flow.
Course
The total approximate length of Wadi Sifuni is {{Convert|25|km|mi|abbr=on}} (including the upper segment, also known as Wadi Baqarah).
It flows from east to west, and its main source is located on the southern slope of Jabal Bulaydah ({{Convert|830|m|ft|abbr=on}}),[https://www.mindat.org/feature-292367.html Mindat.org - Jabal Bulaydah, Ra’s al Khaymah, United Arab Emiratesirates] at an approximate altitude of {{Convert|734|m|ft|abbr=on}}.
In its middle course, it passes through the village of Sifuni, also known as Esfini or Sha'biyyāt Işfany, and after receiving the Wadi Esfai flow on its left, it enters an area occupied by large gabbro quarries, which have affected the course of the wadi and caused considerable environmental impact in its surroundings.[https://www.stevinrock.com/ Stevin Rock - One of the largest quarrying companies in the world]{{cite news|accessdate=2025-04-14 |language=en |title=Case Study: Reducing dust control water usage by 60% for Al Futtaim Shawkah Quarry |url=https://news.dustaside.com/case-study-reducing-dust-control-water-usage-by-60-for-al-futtaim-shawkah-quarry |work=news.dustaside.com}}
In the area of its confluence with the Wadi Ashwani, at the beginning of the great alluvial plain of the Wadi Kadrah,FCO 18/1859 1975 - Map Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE): Dhaid - Scale 1:100 000
- Published by D Survey, Ministry of Defence, United Kingdom (1975) - Edition 3-GSGS - The National Archives, London, England
Dams and Reservoirs
Like most wadis in the United Arab Emirates, Wadi Sifuni is prone to severe flooding.
To prevent the risk of flash floods and increase the groundwater recharge potential, a dam, {{Convert|8|m|ft|abbr=on}} high, with a reservoir area of {{Convert|0.15|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} and a capacity of 0.6 million cubic meters, called the Wadi Sfni Dam (coordinates: 25°11′27″N, 56°02′32″E), was built in 2001 in the Wadi Sifuni channel, {{Convert|3.5|km|mi|abbr=on}} before its mouth.[https://www.fao.org/aquastat/en/databases/dams Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture]
File:Wadi Sifuni and Wadi Ashwani Drainage Basin.jpg
Upstream of the former, next to the mouth of Wadi Mamduh in the Wadi Sifuni, a second dam, {{Convert|11.5|m|ft|abbr=on}} high, with a reservoir area of {{Convert|0.086|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} and a capacity of 0.21 million cubic metres, was built in 2002. It is called Mamduh Dam (coordinates: 25°10′17″N, 56°06′30″E).
Toponymy
Alternative names: Wadi Sifni, Wādī Sifūnī, Wadi Isfini, Wadi Sfuni, Wādī Iṣfani, Wadi Asfani, Wadi Sfni.
The name of Wadi Sifuni (with that same spelling), its tributaries, mountains and nearby towns, were recorded in the documentation and maps produced between 1950 and 1960 by the British Arabist, cartographer, military officer and diplomat Julian F. Walker, during the work carried out to establish the borders between the then called Trucial States,FCO 18/1937 1958 Sketch map drawn by Julian Walker for boundary delimitation: Dhaid-Masafi - The National Archives, London, England
In the National Atlas of the United Arab Emirates it appears with the spelling Wādī Iṣfani ({{langx|ar|وادي إصفني}}).
Population
The area of Wadi Sifuni and its upper course (Wadi Baqarah) was populated mainly by the Quwayd / Quwayyid tribal area.{{Cite book|last=Lancaster, William, 1938-|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/763160662|title=Honour is in contentment : life before oil in Ras al-Khaimah (UAE) and some neighbouring regions|date=2011|publisher=De Gruyter|others=Lancaster, Fidelity.|isbn=978-3-11-022340-8|location=Berlin|pages=|oclc=763160662}}[https://www.mindat.org/feature-291115.html Mindat.org - Quwayd, Ra’s al Khaymah, United Arab Emirates]FO 371/114648 1955 Land and sea boundaries of Trucial Sheikhdoms in Persian Gulf - The National Archives, London, England
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category-inline|Wadi Sifuni}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sifuni, Wadi}}
Category:Wadis of United Arab Emirates