Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Egypt Qesm Hurghada Desert Breath

Desert Breath

A massive work of modern art that appears to be a crop circle in the middle of the desert.

Qesm Hurghada, Egypt

Added By
Joshua Foer
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Desert Breath just after its construction.   D.A.ST. Arteam
Desert Breath   Wikimedia Commons
An aerial view from 2021   Nuno Luciano / CC-BY
  bauerovaanna / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Rising out of a flat expanse in the Egyptian desert, the earthen cones of Desert Breath seem like giant, alien ant hills, but they are simply art.

Completed in 1997 after a number of years under construction, the installation consists of a fractal spiral of conical protrusions and alternately conical depressions. From the ground, the full scope of the project is hard to see, as the site appears to be a string of increasingly large sand piles, with the matching pits from which they were dug lurking nearby.

However, when seen from the air, the full effect of the piece becomes clear as the 89 cones and 89 matching depressions spiral out from one another in two geometrically precise arms that increase in diameter the farther they get from the central axis. At the center where the two strings meet, a cone rises up out of a large central pit which was originally filled with water. Despite being otherwise unadorned, the mathematical precision on display at the site creates a sense of wonder.  

Desert Breath was purpose-built to slowly erode back into the swept sands it was created from and in the decade and a half since its construction, it has begun to do just that. The piece may not be as large as it was when it was installed, but this work of art is still worth a visit for anyone wishing to see an Egyptian monument that isn't quite so ancient.

Related Tags

Art Outside Art Deserts
Atlas Obscura Adventures

Egypt Family Adventure: Pyramids, Mummies & The Mighty Nile

Cross dream-like deserts and uncover the secrets of ancient pyramids.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

Josh

Edited By

ronan, EricGrundhauser, bauerovaanna, theannemeadows

  • ronan
  • EricGrundhauser
  • bauerovaanna
  • theannemeadows

Published

November 26, 2015

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert_Breath
  • http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/desert-breath-by-d-a-s-t-art-team/
  • http://www.altering-perspectives.com/2013/09/the-mysterious-cones-of-egyptian-desert.html
Desert Breath
Qesm Hurghada
Egypt
27.380403, 33.632156
Visit Website

Nearby Places

SS Thistlegorm

Egypt

miles away

Blue Desert

Qesm Sharm Ash Sheikh, Egypt

miles away

St. Catherine's Monastery

Qesm Saint Katrin, Egypt

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Egypt

Egypt

Africa

Places 51
Stories 53

Nearby Places

SS Thistlegorm

Egypt

miles away

Blue Desert

Qesm Sharm Ash Sheikh, Egypt

miles away

St. Catherine's Monastery

Qesm Saint Katrin, Egypt

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Egypt

Egypt

Africa

Places 51
Stories 53

Related Stories and Lists

22 Unusual Things You Can Find in the Desert

List

By Jonathan Carey

30 of the World's Most Spectacular Spirals

List

By Kerry Wolfe

Related Places

  • Basel, Switzerland

    Hammering Man

    This 42-foot tribute to the workforce still reminds us to pause and recharge.

  • Phoenix, Arizona

    David Bowie Mural

    This mural of the late David Bowie features eight colorful panels showcasing Bowie’s various alter egos.

  • Wemding, Germany

    'Zeitpyramide' ('Time Pyramid')

    An abstract sculpture that will be a work in progress for the next 1,000 years.

  • Gene Frankel Theater

    New York, New York

    'Dreams of Hyperion'

    A unique collection of figures perform down the facade of the Gene Frankel Theatre.

  • South Shields, England

    'Conversation Piece'

    This sculpture made up of 22 bulbous bronze figures reminds locals of massive Weeble Woobles.

  • The north side is a wonder to behold.

    Seattle, Washington

    Wall of Misfit Art

    A mesmerizing amount of crazy art is attached to the side of this house on Seattle's Phinney Ridge, bringing smiles to those who venture down the driveway to take a look.

  • You can look through the porthole window out to the sea

    Xiaoliuqiu, Taiwan

    Sea Gazing Room

    This public artwork, hidden down a cliffside hiking trail, encourages visitors to contemplate the tides.

  • May you rest in peace.

    Birmingham, England

    'A Life in the Year of the Chinchillas'

    The ceiling of this shopping arcade is adorned with six trompe-l’œil artworks, including a grim funeral scene.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.