Whales once walked Egypt's vast desert

Wadi Al-Hitan has unique fossils of early whales losing their hind limbs.

Wadi Al-Hitan is a paleontological site in Egypt's Western Desert.

The site contains early whale fossils from the Archaeoceti suborder.

Fossils show whales transitioning from land animals to ocean mammals.

Some fossils show whales losing their hind limbs in evolution.

Wadi Al-Hitan’s fossils have unique number, quality, and concentration.

The protected property covers 20,015 hectares in Wadi El-Rayan.

Desert landscape with rock formations in Wadi Al-Hitan.

Egyptian law forbids damage or destruction of Wadi Al-Hitan.

No vehicles are allowed to protect the fossils and landscape.

Visitors use footpaths to see fossils in a controlled way.

Fossilized whale bones show evolution from land to sea.

Wadi Al-Hitan tells the story of whales evolving to ocean mammals.

Wadi Al-Hitan holds fossils of whales that once walked.