Oasis

In ecology, an oasis (; : oases ) is a fertile area of a desert or semi-desert environment that sustains plant life and provides habitat for animals. Surface water may be present, or water may only be accessible from wells or underground channels created by humans. In geography, an oasis may be a current or past rest stop on a transportation route, or less-than-verdant location that nonetheless provides access to underground water through deep wells created and maintained by humans. Although they depend on a natural condition, such as the presence of water that may be stored in reservoirs and used for irrigation, most oases, as we know them, are artificial.

The word ''oasis'' came into English from , from , , which in turn is a direct borrowing from Demotic Egyptian. The word for ''oasis'' in the latter-attested Coptic language (the descendant of Demotic Egyptian) is ''wahe'' or ''ouahe'' which means a "dwelling place". Oasis in Arabic is ''wāḥa'' (). Provided by Wikipedia