The ?Rose City? is a honeycomb of hand-hewn caves, temples, and tombs carved from blushing pink sandstone in the high desert of Jordan some 2,000 years ago. Hidden by time and shifting sand, Petra tells of a lost civilization.

The famous "pink stone" of Jordan is primarily the Nubian Sandstone that forms the spectacular cliffs and monuments of the ancient city of Petra. Often referred to as the "Rose City," Petra's architecture is carved directly into these vibrant rock faces, which range in color from deep crimson and pale pink to swirls of yellow and orange. The coloration is caused by the presence of iron oxide and other minerals within the sedimentary layers of the sandstone. While some sources colloquially refer to it as "pink granite" due to its durability, geologically it is sandstone, which allowed the Nabataean people in the 1st century AD to carve intricate facades like Al-Khazneh (The Treasury) and the Monastery with incredible detail. The stone's hue changes dramatically depending on the time of day, with the late afternoon sun making the rock appear to glow in a soft, luminescent pink. This unique geological feature has made Petra a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.