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Wadi Rum
Wadi Ram
Wadi Rum desert.
History: Wadi Rum has been inhabited since ancient times by different civilizations. Many of these are depicted in the rock paintings and markings in the stone walls. In the canyons at the bottom of the valley are several caves which contain numerous petroglyphs. Since Lawrence of Arabia passed through this Wadi several times during his expeditions in the Arab Revolt, one of the rock formations is named after his world famous book “Seven Pillars of Wisdom”.
Geography: Wadi Rum is located in the south western part of Jordan. From the mountaintops it is possible to see the Red Sea and Saudi Arabian border. On one side of Wadi Rum stands Jebel Rum, which rises to the height of 1,734 meters above sea level. The village of Wadi Rum is a small group of concrete and earthen houses.
Demography: The population of Wadi Rum is scattered in several small villages of a couple of hundred people.
Tourism: Since Wadi Rum presents a panorama of historic development and pastoral, agricultural and urban activities, it attracts large numbers of tourists coming from various cultural and academic backgrounds. Wadi Rum is recognized as one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites. Several organizations run tours of Wadi Rum in different formats such as camel rides, SUV drives, trekking, aerosports, balloon rides, and desert camping. Most of the tourists visit Wadi Rum on their way to Aqaba.
Wadi Rum is among the main tourist attractions of Jordan. The trekkers and climbers find the mountains and hills around Wadi Rum especially attractive for its level of difficulty in climbing. Other tourists mostly come to enjoy horseback riding, hiking, and camping at night under the clear desert skies that enhance the view of the stars. People from Aqaba and Petra often come to Wadi Rum to spend a day of different recreational adventures.
Other Facts: Wadi Rum has featured in several famous Hollywood movies. Its vast landscape and the bordering mountains lend a unique character and depth to its scenery. Some of the mountains pose unique challenges to professional climbers. The rock formations in Wadi Rum are unique and highly scenic.
