In pictures: A sea of purple in Saudi desert

A desert bloom triggered by heavier than usual winter rains is drawing visitors

Last updated: February 18, 2023 | 19:55

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Winter rains brought deadly flooding to parts of western Saudi Arabia late last year, but in northern areas they have brought life to the desert.

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Residents of the area also kept camels away to stop them eating the flowers that have drawn the sightseers.

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Men gather in a field covered with lavendar-coloured blooms in Rafha town, near the border with Iraq, on February 13, 2023.

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Across the desert, visitors pitched tents and cooked food over open fires.

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Men gather in a field covered with lavendar-coloured blooms in Rafha town, near the border with Iraq, on February 13, 2023.

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A man walks in a field covered with lavendar-coloured blooms in the Saudi town of Rafha, near the border with Iraq, on February 13, 2023.

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