Was Wadi Rum an ocean?

Wadi Rum, also known as Valley of the Moon, is a desert the size of 720km squared, cut into sandstone and granite rock. Many years ago, the sea formed the strange shapes you see in the sandstone. The highest peak in Wadi Rum is Jabal Um ad Adami (1,840m), which lies close to the Saudia Arabian border.



Yes, the stunning desert landscape of Wadi Rum in Jordan was once part of a vast prehistoric ocean floor. Hundreds of millions of years ago, during the Paleozoic era, the region was submerged under the Tethys Sea. The characteristic red sandstone and white granite mountains seen today are the result of ancient marine sediments and volcanic activity that were pushed upward by tectonic shifts. If you look closely at the rock faces while hiking, it is still possible to find fossilized remains of ancient marine life and trilobites embedded in the stone. Over millions of years, as the sea receded and the land rose, the elements of wind and water carved the soft sandstone into the dramatic canyons, arches, and "mars-like" vistas that make it famous today. This underwater history is what gives the sand its unique mineral composition and varied colors, proving that this arid desert was once teeming with aquatic life in a completely different climate.

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In fact, the deeper in you explore, you'll find yourself in the white desert. Wadi Rum began underwater. It's hard to imagine, but ions ago the area of Wadi Rum was all water. The sandstone formations were created underwater from layers of sediments and ancient sea life.

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The 74,000-hectare property, inscribed as a mixed natural and cultural site, is situated in southern Jordan, near the border with Saudi Arabia. It features a varied desert landscape consisting of a range of narrow gorges, natural arches, towering cliffs, ramps, massive landslides and caverns.

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It is set on a high plateau at the western edge of the Arabian desert. Wadi Rum is a desert valley cut into sandstone and granite mountains, featuring a varied landscape of narrow canyons, towering cliffs, natural arches, inscriptions, rock carvings and archaeological remains.

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This concentration of iron oxide causes a red colouration and is one notable aspect of Wadi Rum. Across southern Jordan, places get their names from the ochre hues in the sand, including the Nabatean city of Petra.

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Lawrence recorded many of his experiences in the Jordanian desert in the book Seven Pillars of Wisdom. He spent lots of his time in Wadi Rum, Azraq, and Amman, and today visitors can follow in his footsteps in one of these top Lawrence of Arabia experiences.

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Question: Which desert was 'Star Wars' filmed in? Answer: Several scenes of the films in the 'Star Wars' franchise have been filmed in desert regions. This includes the Tatooine desert planet shot in Tunisia, North Africa and the desert planet Pasaana shot in Wadi Rum, Jordan.

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Part of the reason that camping in Wadi Rum is so affordable during the initial booking process is that the guides running the camps make a good chunk of their money selling Jeep tours and camel rides. This is simply part of the process, and nothing to be worried about at all–but it helps to know what to expect.

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1997: The Wadi Rum Protected Area of 54,000 ha was set up under the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) as a Special Regulations Area to conserve the landscape and its associated cultural values in perpetuity; 2001: Regulation No.

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It's a 4 hour drive from Wadi Rum to the Dead Sea is lowest point on earth at 420m below sea level.

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Lawrence of Arabia was the name given to a British Intelligence Officer, Thomas Edward Lawrence, who fought alongside Arab guerrilla forces in the Middle East during the First World War. Thomas Edward Lawrence was born in Tremadoc, Caernarvon in north Wales in 1888.

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The key to survival in the desert is of course water. Nomadic Bedouins only stay in Wadi Rum during the rainy winter months, when water is easier to find and there is more vegetation for animals to graze on.

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Wadi Rum also known as The Valley of the Moon is a valley cut into the sandstone and granite rock in southern Jordan 60 km (37 mi) to the east of Aqaba; it is the largest wadi in Jordan. The name Rum most likely comes from an Aramaic root meaning 'high' or 'elevated'.

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Wadi is an Arabic word often translated to valley. Officially wadi refers specifically to dry river beds and can also relate to smaller geographic formations.

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The combination of 25,000 petroglyphs with 20,000 inscriptions and their continuity over a period of at least 12,000 years sets Wadi Rum apart from other rock art and/or inscription sites. The petroglyphs, representing humans and animals, are engraved on boulders, stones, and cliff faces.

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Alcohol is legal, but heavily taxed For example, it's illegal to sell alcohol anywhere in the country during Ramadan (with the exception of some high-end hotels), and most camps in Wadi Rum don't serve alcohol at all (but you can often bring your own).

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