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Hand of Fatima is a sacred symbol for the Shiite Muslims throughout the world and in Mali it is symbolized in a mount of the same name. The Mound of Hand of Fatima is so named because the rock needles on it are like the digits of an open palm. The five rock fingers in the Mount Hand of Fatima are the native symbols of the five holy columns of Islam. Hand of Fatima in Mali in West Africa is an example of how the whim of Nature becomes an object of veneration for man due to its massive structure and the difficulty in conquering it.
On the southern boundary of the desert of Sahara stand these world's tallest freestanding sandstone columns, stretching out into the horizon. Travelers visiting Bandiagara, the village of the Dogon people come to experience this natural wonder of the towering Hand of Fatima. Jutting out of the sand like red fingers reaching for the sky, this natural marvel is an 830-meter-high rock formation.
A visit to this magnificent natural creation can be organized from Bamako, the capital of Mali. The trip takes about two days by bus to Hambori and then a camel or jeep ride into the desert. The notorious Harmattan Wind is a constant companion of visitors in the way to this sight. Although with its fine mist like sand, the desert is a wonder in itself.
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