ABSTRACT
The Jebel Akhdar, or Green Mountains, that form the whole backbone of Oman are so named because of the greenish colour of the rocks that form them, some of which date back to the Pre-Cambrian era though most of the range is more recent. The steep-sided mountains and general terrain of the Jebel Akhdar are perfect for the training of young soldiers and the battle camp up at Saiq, which is centred around a Beau Geste-type fort, is now equipped with eight ranges for the full training of infantry. Cutting through the centre of the Jebel Akhdar country is the Sumail Gap and one of the most remarkable engineering feats in Oman was the construction of an oil pipeline through the gap linking the coast with the interior. The pipeline construction was started in 1966 and finished the following year, the first oil for export being pumped through to Saih al Maleh in July 1967.
