#4 Petra World Heritage Site, Wadi Musa, JORDON

Petra (English) – the ancient city and the capital of the Nabataean kingdom – is now an archaeological site and a symbol of Jordan, part of World Heritage UNESCO, Geographically, Petra is located almost midway between the Dead Sea (80 km to the north) and the Gulf of Aqaba Red Sea, 100 km to the south.

Petra is located in the valley of Wadi Musa, in the center of a more or less flat, irrigated by several mountain streams terraces which adjoins the east of the hill country of Jabal al-Shara, in the west gradually descends to the Wadi Araba, in the north it limits the Wadi numb, in the south – Wadi Sabra.

There are scattered groups of red sandstone cliffs 2 highest ridge close the terrace on the east and west. Wadi Musa River flows in from the spring of Ain Musa near the modern village of Elji, crosses the valley and the ranks of the rocks, and divides it into two parts – north and south. From the east access to Petra opens 3-km pass-sik, a depth of 100 m, and sometimes tapering to 3 mm in width, through which the Wadi Musa flows into the valley. Way to the city from the south of the Wadi Araba also passed through a narrow gorge.

Petra is famous for its system of hydraulic structures created by the ancient inhabitants of the city. Was built by the Nabataeans clever system of dams, catchment tanks, tunnels, canals gravity-filled river Ain Musa, which helps prevent seasonal flooding and at the same time providing water for 30 million population of the city.

Petra – part of the cultural heritage of the Nabataeans, an industrious Arab tribe that inhabited the southern Jordan more than 2000 years ago. From their remote military posts Nabateansmonitored and control of all the trade routes of ancient Arabia, was charged tribute for the support and protection of walking through the desert from the west to the east of caravans laden with Indian spices and silks, and following them to meet the caravans carrying animal skins and ivory from Africa.

Petra, the world wonder, is without a doubt Jordan’s most valuable treasure and greatest tourist attraction. It is a vast, unique city, carved into the sheer rock face by the Nabataeans, an industrious Arab people who settled here more than 2000 years ago, turning it into an important junction for the silk, spice and other trade routes that linked China, India and southern Arabia with Egypt, Syria, Greece and Rome.

Entrance to the city is through the Siq, a narrow gorge, over 1km in length, which is flanked on either side by soaring, 80m high cliffs. Just walking through the Siq is an experience in itself. The colours and formations of the rocks are dazzling. As you reach the end of the Siq you will catch your first glimpse of Al-Khazneh (Treasury).

This is an awe-inspiring experience. A massive façade, 30m wide and 43m high, carved out of the sheer, dusky pink rock-face and dwarfing everything around it. It was carved in the early 1st century as the tomb of an important Nabataean king and represents the engineering genius of these ancient people.

 many wonders that make up Petra. You will need at least four or five days to really explore everything here. As you enter the Petra valley you will be overwhelmed by the natural beauty of this place and its outstanding architectural achievements. There are hundreds of elaborate rock-cut tombs with intricate carvings - unlike the houses, which were destroyed mostly by earthquakes, the tombs were carved to last throughout the afterlife and 500 have survived, empty but bewitching as you file past their dark openings. Here also is a massive Nabataean-built, Roman-style theatre, which could seat 3,000 people. There are obelisks, temples, sacrificial altars and colonnaded streets, and high above, overlooking the valley, is the impressive Ad-Deir Monastery – a flight of 800 rock cut steps takes you there.

Within the site there are also two excellent museums; the Petra Archaeological Museum, and the Petra Nabataean Museum both of which represent finds from excavations in the Petra region and an insight into Petra's colourful past.

A 13th century shrine, built by the Mameluk Sultan, Al Nasir Mohammad, to commemorate the death of Aaron, the brother of Moses, can be seen on top of Mount Aaron in the Sharah range.

Inside the site, several artisans from the town of Wadi Musa and a nearby Bedouin settlement have set up small stalls selling local handicrafts, such as pottery and Bedouin jewellery, and bottles of striated multi-coloured sands from the area.