(CNN) — In the desert heat of Saudi Arabia, it might have been seen as a mirage – but photographer Khaled Al Enazi. There are photographs proving that he did indeed see huge fish-shaped rocks emerging from the sand.
Al Enazi used a drone to capture images of the unusual formation while documenting the archaeological treasures of Al-Ula county in Saudi Arabia – an area known for ancient structures that rival the Jordanian city of Petra.
“While I was documenting the area, a view of a mountain appeared in front of me, its shape reminiscent of a fish in the middle of the desert,” he told CNN by email.
Al Enazi said he may not have been the first to encounter the rock formation, but he believes his aerial views meant he was the first to notice its strange shape.
“The photographer’s eye sees what people don’t see,” he said.
The photographer aptly named the rock Desert Fish.
In drone footage captured by Al Enazi in June, the rock formation resembles aquatic life swimming in golden sand, and its dorsal fin-like structure also suggests it may be a shark surfacing from the depths to track prey.
viral feeling
Since his photo was shared, Al Enazi has had to disappoint imaginative social media users who claim the rocks are actually the remains of giant sea beasts.
“Some people mentioned it was a real fish that fossilized millions of years ago, but that’s not the case,” he said. “It’s sandstone that’s formed from a variety of factors.”
A desert fish video shared in a tweet in July has garnered more than 29,000 views.
The photographer is currently creating his own YouTube channel dedicated to documenting the Al-Ula region and its stunning landscapes.
Oura County covers nearly 9,000 square miles (22,500 square kilometers) and has one of the most dramatic desert landscapes in the world.
The ancient Nabataeans founded their main southern city north of the Ora Valley and carved out of the rocky outcrop of Mada’in Salih, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spectacular tombs.
Some of the rocks of Al-Ula, sculpted by the elements, take on astonishing sculptural and human forms.
A rock known locally as Jabal Al-Fil is known for its resemblance to an elephant.
Best Image Credit: Khaled Zaad Enazzi