3.9. Nature Reserves in Jordan
The RSCN (Royal Society for the conservation of Nature) already was founded in 1966. Today we have 6 nature reserves in Jordan: Wadi Rum, Dana, Azraq, Shaumari, Wadi Mujib and Zubia.
In Wadi Rum still
live Arabian Oryx and gazelles. With its awesome stretches of reddish sand,
Wadi Rum is a vast, silent place that is both romantic and starkly beautiful.
Massive mountains and rocks, in strange shapes and colours, seem to come out
of nowhere everywhere you look. Engravings on the rocks and inside the natural
caves indicate that the area was inhabited since the earliest known time (see
also chapter 3.5.)
Dana also belongs to the most dazzling sites and nature reserves in
Jordan. Dana lies north west of Wadi Rum and stretches from the Sharaa mountains,
with peaks 1800 meters above sea level, in the east, to Wadi Araba in the
west.
Dana was successively
inhabited by the Edomites, Assyrians, Romans, and many other civilisations.
Modernisation has not crept to the area yet, and its houses still retain the
simple, traditional stile of long times past. The area´s beautiful forests
have trees as old as 3,000 years. It is roamed by mountain gazelles, red foxes,
badgers and many other mammals. Nearly 600 species of plants, 200 reptiles
and mammals, and more than 150 species of birds have been identified in Dana.
The area is also rich in water springs and semi-precious stones.
Dana is certainly a refuge for nature-lovers. A camp site has been set up
in the area, hiking trails opened and field guides are available.
Further north, the impact of the sight of Wadi Mujib, known as Arnon in the
Old Testament, is unforgettable. Here the Kings' Highway suddenly twists and
winds its way down 900 meters of this gash across the plateau. The wadi, or
canyon, runs from east to west and the river in it flows into the eastern
coast of the Dead Sea.
Wadi Mujib is the home of ibexes, gazelles and leopards.
Zubia Forest Reserve
is a beautiful pine tree forest and the Azraq Wetland Reserve is an oasis
in the desert with pools of water used by migrating birds.
The marshes, approximately 10 km South of Azraq, have been made into a national
wildlife preserve, called Shaumari Reserve. There native species such
as oryx, gazelle and ostrich are being reintroduced into the desert.
The RSCN soon will add five other natural reserves: Dibbeen Forest close to
Jerash, the Yarmouk River Gorge near Umm Qeis, Burqu north east of Jordan
and Feifa south east of the Dead Sea and as well the Jordan River Gorge.
Contents of the Guide Book
| 1. | Welcome to Jordan |
| 2.. | The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan |
| 2.1. | Geography, Climate and Borders |
| 2.2. | Entry and Departure Procedures |
| 2.3 | Population |
| 2.4. | Currency |
| 2.5. | History |
| 2.6. |
Government |
| 2.7. | Economy |
| 3. | Jordan, where the Adventure awaits you |
| 3.2 | Amman, the Dynamic Capital City |
| 3.2. | The
Kings´Highway (Madaba, Mt. Nebo, Mukawir, Wadi Mujib, Karak, Shobak) |
| 3.3. | Petra, the Spectacular Rose-Red City |
| 3.4. | The Cities of Decapolis (Pella, Gadara, Abila, Philadelphia, Gerasa, Umm el Jimal) |
| 3.5.. |
Following
the Footsteps of "Lawrence of Arabia"; |
| 3.6. | Aqaba, Jordan´s year-round Red Sea Resort |
| 3.7. | The Dead Sea and Termal Spas; The healing power of the Dead Sea; The Hot Springs of Zarqa Ma´in |
| 3.8. | Biblical Sites in Jordan |
| 3.8.1. | The
Biblical Sites from North to South; Gadara, Anjara, Pella, Bethany, Machaerus, Madaba, Mt. Nebo, the Kings´Highway, Wadi Musa, Sodom & Gomorra, Ayla |
| 3.9. | Nature Reserves in Jordan; Wadi Rum, Dana, Zubia, Azraq, Shaumari |
| 4. | The Tourist Facilities in Jordan |
| 4.1. | Transportation;
Flight Connections, Tourist Buses, Bus-, Train-, Ferry-Connections; Car Rental and Driving in Jordan |
| 4.2. | Communication |
| 4.3. | Sports; Aquatic Sports and Diving; Horseback Riding and Camel Trips; Ballooning; Glimbing and Hang-gliding |
| 4.4. | Culture and Entertainment; Museums and Galleries; Festivals; Other Entertainments |
| 4.5. | Restaurants |
| 4.6. | Shopping and Souvenirs |
| 4.7. | Tourist Guides |
| 4.8. | Accommodation; |
| 5. | Incentive Travel |
| 5.1. | Incentive Special Events |
| 6. | Helpful Facts about Jordan |
| 6.1. | Best Time to Travel and Safty |
| 6.2. | Tipping (Bakshish) |
| 6.3. | Holidays, Ramadan, Business Hours |
| 6.4. | Local Customs - How to Dress? |
| 6.5. | Electric Current, Water Supply |