What is special about Wadi Rum?
Besides stunning desert landscape, Wadi Rum also boasts astounding cultural landscape. 25,000 petroglyphs (rock carvings), 20,000 inscriptions, and 154 archaeological sites have been discovered within this place, tracing the evolution of human thought and the early development of the alphabet.
Why is Wadi Rum famous?
Wadi Rum Desert is famed for its link to T.E. Lawrence the original “Lawrence of Arabia”. Along with Prince Feisal bin Al-Hussein, he made his base here during the Arab Revolt of 1917-1918. And furthermore, this has brought thousands of visitors from across the globe to the spectacular Wadi Rum Desert .
How Wadi Rum got its name?
Wadi Rum or Wadi Ramm is believed to get its name from the early name of Iram of the Pillars ( also called “Irum (Arabic: إرم)” ), a lost city mentioned in the Quran.
Why is Wadi Rum sand red?
The area is studied by geology students from all around the world, as Wadi Rum contains almost all the minerals present in our planet. The red color of the sand and mountains is due to the presence of iron oxide. The basin of the Wadi Rum contains a reservoir of fossil freshwater accumulated over the previous eras.
What desert is Jordan in?
Around 75% of Jordan is made up of a desert area known as the North Arab Desert. With elevations rising above sea level between 600 and 900 meters, the desert also stretches into parts of Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. The climate of the Eastern Desert of Badia can vary a great deal both during the day and seasonally.
Was Wadi Rum an ocean?
The metamorphic pre-Cambrian bedrock was almost flat, allowing the sedimentary deposits from the southern landmass to deposit in Wadi Rum. The quartz sand eroded from the Gondwana continent to the south in what is now Egypt and Sudan. The north formed a large sea whose currents kept the deposits close to the shore.
Are there wolves in Wadi Rum?
Some very rare mammals survive in Wadi Rum, although they are unlikely to be seen, including Arabian Wolf (Canis lupus), Asiatic Jackal (Canis aureus), Caracal (Felis caracal), Sand Cat (Felis margarita), Nubian Ibex (Capra ibex nubiana) and Striped Hyena (Hyaena hyaena).
How many deserts does Jordan have?
Discover 5 deserts in Jordan.
Where is the Wadi desert?
Jordan
This protected desert reserve in the southern part of Jordan, often called the Valley of the Moon, is known for its red-pink sands, stunning natural arches and mountains, and prehistoric rock engravings.
Does Jordan have hyenas?
Referenced in the Old Testament, striped hyenas are approaching endangered status globally but are protected in Jordan, where they are found in more remote areas. By far Jordan’s best “safari” experience is inside the Shaumari Wildlife Reserve, where threatened species thrive as part of conservation breeding programs.
What animals live in the Wadi Rum desert?
The mammals of Wadi Rum desert
- Domesticated dromedarian camel.
- Red or Blandford’s fox.
- Arabian sand cat.
- Wild dogs.
- Nubian ibex (Capra ibex nubiana) – a mountain goat.
- Grey wolf (Canis lupus)
- Arabian oryx – a variety of big white gazelles (only in captivity)
- Hedgehogs.
How did Jordan get its shape?
In 1965, the country signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia which saw it gain an extra 11 miles of Red Sea shore in exchange for a chunk of desert territory further inland. This allowed it to expand its port facilities on the water, and led to a growth-spurt for the city of Aqaba.
Where is the Wadi Rum Desert in Jordan?
Wadi Rum desert in Jordan is indeed famous for its beauty. This desert is even the backdrop for top films such as Star Wars to the latest Dune. The Wadi Rum Desert itself is a desert located in the City of Aqaba, near Petra. Wadi Rum is located in the southern part of Jordan, about 300 kilometers from Amman, the capital of Jordan.
Why is it important to visit Wadi Rum?
Visiting Wadi Rum is a voyage through the geological evolution of Earth, and many of these topographical features are older than the Dead Sea Rift that forms the western border of Jordan.
What does Wadi Rum look like in movies?
With reddish sand and mountains looking like the arid and red surface of Mars, Wadi Rum is a Hollywood favorite for films set on the red planet.
Why is Wadi Rum called the valley of the Moon?
Wadi Rum is called The Valley of the Moon because there is a unique contrast to the natural situation there. In the barren desert there are giant green circles that contrast with the surrounding area. The circles are a plantation area called Rum Farm.