The ancient Petra in Jordan is considered as one of the new seven wonders of the world in 2007. It means Stone in ancient Greek. Petra lies around Jabal Al-Madbah in a basin surrounded by mountains which form the eastern flank of the Arabah valley that runs from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba. The area around Petra has been inhabited from as early as 7000 BC, and the Nabateans might have settled in what would become the capital city of heir kingdom, as early as the 4th century BC. However, archaeological work has only discovered evidence of Nabataean presence dating back to the second century BC, by which time Petra has become their capital. The Nabataeans were nomadic Arabs who invested in Petra`s proximity to the trade routes by establishing it as a major regional trading hub. It remained unknown to the world until it was rediscovered in 1812 by Johann Ludwig Burckhardt.
Access to the city is through a 1.2-kilometre-long gorge called the Siq, which leads directly to the Khazneh. Famous for its rock-cut architecture and water conduit system, Petra is also called the "Rose City" beause of the colour of the stone from which it is carved. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. UNESCO has described Petra as "one of the most precious cultural properties of man`s cultural heritage".
Petra is a three-hour drive from Amman the capital city of Jordan via the faster Desert Highway or 4.5 hours via the slower but more scenic King`s Highway. From Aqaba to Petra it's a 126 km or 2 hours.
A visit to Jordan would not be complete without visiting the ancient city of Petra and it can be reached better by foot rather than riding camels, donekys or hrse buggies.
#New7WondersOfTheWorld #Documentary #TravelHistory #Jordan #BestDestination #TouristAttraction #Petra #Stones
Негізгі бет THE ANCIENT PETRA IN JORDAN | ONE OF THE NEW 7 WONDERS OF THE WORLD
Пікірлер: 31