They outcrop widely round the coast from Bimah to Sur and beyond, and in the southern Dhofar mountains behind the Salalah plain dipping gently northward beneath the Najd desert. Recent landscapes Al Batinah plain looking to the foothills of Al Hajar South and north of the northern Oman mountains, the plains are typically covered with a coarse grey gravel. This alluvium, as it is collectively known, is generally very poorly sorted with sizes ranging from boulders to silt. A blue pool on the southern side of Al Hajar al Sharqi, approx. 25 km east of Bid Bid Blue pools are common on both sides of the northern Oman mountains where alkaline water flowing through and emerging from the fractured ophiolites reacts with the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Calcium carbonate is precipitated forming fine white deposits at the bottom of the pools.
This white layer scatters the sunlight to reflect back blue light, in the same way that water vapour in the atmosphere causes the sky to appear blue. The Intercon beach from the Crowne Plaza hotel, Muscat Much of Oman's 1700 km coastline is defined by fine beaches such as this one which stretches from Muscat to Sohar and beyond. Sand dune behind Al Khuwair 33, Muscat Sand dunes stretch behind parts of the coast. Housing is encroaching, requiring strong foundations. For information about the Ramlat al Wahybah sand sea, go to Wahibah Sands .