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Why Petra
is special
It is an ancient city of tombs, temples and other monumental buildings carved into solid sandstone cliffs in
arid gorges in southern Jordan.

The Nabataeans

The cliff buildings of Petra were sculpted by the Nabataeans, an Arab tribe that flourished from around the 4th
century BC to 106 AD, when the Romans took
control. They were remarkable engineers who constructed a
sophisticated pipe-and-tunnel water system to bring in drinking water and keep out flash floods.

Petra -
main entrance

The chief entryway named the Siq is dramatic. It's a twisting gorge bounded closely on both sides by
sheer cliff walls soaring about 200 meters (600 feet). At one point, the space between the towering walls
narrows to just 5 meters (16 feet). Sometimes, the cliff walls come so close together that they block your
view of the sky.

This tight passageway provided the
ancient Nabataeans with a natural defense for repelling invading enemies.

Unique buildings
in Petra

The wavy sandstone geological strata give the facades and interior surfaces of the rock-hewn buildings
interesting layered and whorled patterns - in a range of hues from pale yellowish white to intense desert
rosy red. The Treasury building with its double-level colonnades is the favorite of most tourists.

When to visit
Petra

Spring and autumn are the best seasons. Summer can be scorching and winter, blistery cold.





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Wonders of the World
 
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