Tourism in Yemen, virgin nature and treasure of ancient civilizations
The Source: Akhbar al-Arab Newspaper - 30/09/2009
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Tourism
Yemen is considered one of the best tourist destinations across the international tourist map. It is described by the International Tourism Organization as a hospitable, tourist, attractive and unique in its culture and civilization. The country enjoys variable climate and tourist components like summer tourism and marine and mountainous sports.This variation of wealth and natural resources attract tourism.All these tourists components across ages of Yemeni civilizations are integrated with tourist infrastructure, hotels, roads, telecommunications and public facilities associated with tourist variation. The country is rich in water sport, natural baths, ecotourism, adventure tourism, historical tourism and renowned commercial road for frankincense.Tourist also is more interested to man achievements across the history and speculates unique architecture and other excellent arts. Sana'a is considered the core of historical cities gained bright dress in 2004 as a capital for Arab Culture. It is the political capital to the Republic of Yemen.It has become famous of its modern buildings and its new streets and services have reached mountains overlooking the historical city. In the past, it was known as "Sam City", (the name belongs to the son of Prophet Noah) and "Azal City". In 525 AC, Sana'a has replaced Dhafar as a capital to Himyarite Kingdom.It has been mentioned in the first century and has become along ages a unique city in terms of its incomparable architecture. It is also included as one of the World Cities of Humanitarian Heritage protected by UNESCO. Sana'a historical fence is one of its monuments. It is said that the first one who built the foundations of the fence was the king "Sharam Awter" during the first century AC.Historically, Sana'a is trade station and one of the most famous Arab markets. The Grand Mosque is the most significant historical sites. It was built in the six year after Hijra. "Souk al-Melh" is the most famous markets of Sana'a.The market includes ten other unique markets contain different kinds of goods, antiquities and traditional handcrafts. Steam baths, which are still working, are also of the basic component of the city.Aden city is located on the Arab Sea. Western and eastern tourists are looking forward to visit her because it is shining and smiling across ages. Aden's trade activity is active day and night. The city has roaring gulf, gray mountains and fortified castles.Aden, as free zone, receives tourists from all nationalities. After Yemen's re-unification in 1990, the city restored its vitality. Trade ships and tourist yachts areCrossing through its ports continuously and is witnessing great revival.It is located on the end southern coast; it is 346 kilometers away from the capital Sana'a and 160 kilometers from Bab al-Mandab. In the past, it was famous as one of great Arab markets. It is one of the important Arab Trade Centers. It was the first port to Himyarite (the people of ancient Kingdom of Himyar which ruled Yemen in 115 BC and its rule lasted for six hundred years).
Then it was known of Awsani Port. Its weather is hot during summer and calm in winter .Its houses and variable tourist sites cover its old and modern cities.Hadhramout governorate is a place for historical cities with green valley, clean sea and tracks with smells of incense. The first civilization spread in it during the first millennium BC. It is located in the southeast of Yemen with wide valleys between series of mountains and Empty Quarter desert. It is the largest Yemeni governorate. Its weather is hot and dry during summer (39-40 degrees centigrade) and warm in winter (15-20 degree centigrade).Mareb governorate is the metropolis of Sheba Kingdom. People described it as "a station for any lover traveler with a bird's wing". It is the richest in antique treasure and the location of monuments of Sheba civilization.The governorate is located to the east of the capital Sana'a in Delta Valley, Dhina the "Yemeni Eastern Downhill ". It is the most famous capital to the Kingdom of Sheba. It was mentioned in divine books as the oldest historical city in the Arab Peninsula. It has variable climate, mountains, valleys, flatlands and deserts extended towards the north to the Empty Quarter.The governorate's weather is hot in summer and cold in winter during the night and the early morning in exterior areas and desert ends. Mareb Dam is one of the governorate's civilizations monuments. Mareb Dam is the monument of Saba'i Civilization in Yemen. The dam was constructed first in the eight century BC.Sheba civilization collapsed with the dam's crackup. It's milestones remain as onlookers. There is another dam constructed in the same area before Mareb Dam called "Al-Jafinah Dam" eight kilometers away from the southeast of the governorate center. It is dating back to the first Sheba era.Sa'ada is one of the northern governorates which are unique in tourist variation, historical monuments, Islamic instances, traditional markets and handicrafts, ecotourism and climates variation. It is 242 kilometers away of the capital Sana'a. The historical city is three kilometers away of the modern one on Talmous Mountains.The old city is surrounded with ancient wall with watch towers and three doors. The city's architecture is peculiar to other historical cities, most buildings are constructed from clay and straws. The city was established in nine century AC as transit station providing services to Hajjis. It was established by Imam Hadi bin al-Husain.Sa'ada is formed from mountains hills, flatlands and fertile valleys. Its mountains and woods are excellent for ecotourism. Khawlan bin Amer mountains with the highest of 2800 meters are surrounding the governorate from the south and then Jama'a, Razeh, Sahar and Hamdan bin Zaid mountains. The best place to go is the green grandstands in Katefa'a.Jawf governorate is the richest historical area with antique treasures and was known in the past as Jawf of Ma'inees because Ma'ini people established in it one of the kingdoms and constructed their temples and houses during the second half BC. Jawf is located in the east of the capital Sana'a. Its center, Hazm al-Jawf, is 140 kilometer away of the capital Sana'a.The governorate's elevations are heights, hills and flatlands irrigated by valleys. The greatest valley is Wadi al-Kahared with 60 kilometer length, and the most fertile one is Wadi Khab, rich in fruits like dates. Jawf's weather is calm in summer and cold in winter, but desert areas are hot in summer and very cold in winter. Jawf now is witnessing expansion in agricultural activity. With houses, mostly are made of clay, Jawf is still maintaining ancient monuments for stations along the frankincense road. Visitor can also see areas of Bedouin nomads, houses of poets and cattle. One of the most famous temples is located in the east of Jawf and remains of the road to mountain known as Jabal Muneif still exist. On the top of the mountain, there are valleys growing fruits like grapes and opuntia.Banat Add Temple is one of the most famous temples in the governorate. It is known for Arabs as Najmat Assubh or {morning star}.Shabwah governorate is considered the roots of the first civilization and the starting point of trade caravans across frankincense road on the land of Shabwah, the homeland of three kingdoms. "Taman'a" was the capital of the Kingdom of Qataban, " Maswarah" the capital of Awsan Kingdom and " Old Shabwah" was the capital of the Kingdom of Hadhramout.Shabwa governorate is 458 kilometer away of the capital Sana'a. The highest mountain in the governorate is 3400 feet. Mountains, valleys, flatlands, deserts and sea are composing the terrains of the governorate. The governorate is rich in natural and antique wealth. Some of its areas extend to Empty Quarter desert while the others are overlooking the Gulf of Aden. Its coast is 150 kilometer length with a number of fishing villages the most important of which are "Bi'r Ali", " Hawra'a" and " Balhaf". Their fishing grounds are rich in marine life.Mahra governorate is an area containing frankincense trees. The governorate still maintains original Arab traditions. The citizens have special language besides Arabic, they use it to speak to each other when they want others not to understand what they say. This Mahric language has old roots of other languages.The governorate is located in the far east of the Republic of Yemen along the land parallel to the Arab Sea extending to the east to reach borders of Oman. It is extended from the north to reach the Empty Quarter desert and from the west to Wadi al-Masila in Hadramout governorate.The terrains of the governorate are composed of mountains, flatlands, coastal plains, deep valleys and vast deserts.Socotra Archipelago is islands of happiness, myths and spices. Located in the Arab Sea, 318 kilometers away of Mahra and the Gulf of Aden, Socotra Island is the greatest island.With the population of 100,000 people, the island's area is 3650 square kilometers. Most of the populations are working in farming, pasturing and fishing. Socotra Archipelago contains a group of small islands like "Abdul-Kori", "Samha", "Dersah", "Karail".Socotra's terrains are mountains, hills, valleys and coasts and the highest mountain is Hajhar with highest of 1500 meters above sea level. Hadibu is the capital of Socotra with tropical climate. In summer the temperature is 38 degree centigrade while in the hills of mountains is ranging from 25 to 28 centigrade. Seasonal rains fall in spring and autumn but, in winter the island, especially marine area is exposed to strong winds.Currently, many facilities are being constructed like a modern airport, port, roads and tourist infrastructure. Socotra is internationally considered the greatest nature reserve because it has wide sea and land and rich in different rare kinds of plants, medical herbs and old trees. It is also the homeland to different types of rare birds, both domestic and migratory that find the island a good place for living and propagation.The island has a number of waterfalls coming down from the hills of mountains. It has also caves and the greatest inhabited grotto. The grotto is not only inhabited by families, but also livestock. Even coming cars carrying visitors enter the grotto.Abyan governorate is located between governorates of Aden, Lahj, Dhale'a, Beidha'a and Shabwa. It is characterize by long coastline. With the length of 300 kilometers, this coastline provides the best kinds of fisheries. The governorate is hot in summer and quite in winter.The area is 3000 squire miles and is divided to coastal plain, hills, mountains and valleys between them. The most famous valleys are Wadi Toh and Wadi Hassan and between them is Delta Abyan. A coastal road is crossing the governorate. It is hundreds kilometers extended from Aden in the South to Shabwa in the east. It is crossing the red sea coast and along the road there are a number of tourist locations, cities and villages abutment to the western sea.
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