Eco and Nature

The Dana Nature Reserve offers the beauty of the Rummana Mountain, the mystery of the ancient archaeological ruins of Khirbet Feinan in Wadid Feinan, the timeless serenity of Dana Village and the grandeur of the red and white sandstone cliffs of Wadi Dana. The reserve also contains a remarkable diversity in landscaping that ranges from wooded highlands and rocky slopes to gravel plains and dunes of sand. Dana supports diverse wildlife: 697 plant species, of which 3 are new to science, and 282 animal species. Many of these are now very rare and some threatened with extinction. To date, 45 endangered or vulnerable species have been found in the reserve, making it truly a place of world importance.

A 1,300 meter variation in elevation and year-round water flow from seven tributaries means that Wadi Mujib enjoys a magnificent bio-diversity that is still being explored and documented today. Over 300 species of plants, 10 species of carnivores and numerous species of permanent and migratory birds have been recorded. Some of the remote mountain and valley areas are safe havens for rare species of cats, goats and other mountain animals. Mujib's sandstone cliffs are an ideal habitat for one of the most beautiful mountain goats in the world, the horned Ibex. Mujib is also well known for larger carnivores like the regionally scarce striped hyena and Syrian wolf, and for many kinds of birds. As well as resident birds, the reserve is strategically important as a safe stop-over for the huge number of migratory birds which fly annually along the rift valley between Africa and northeast Europe.

The Gulf of Aqaba is famous for its marine wildlife. As the world’s northernmost coral reef ecosystem. it has on average a water temperature of 23° Celsius, the absence of stormy weather combined with mild water

currents which makes the Gulf of Aqaba a hospitable environment for the growth of corals and a myriad of other marine life-forms. The Gulf of Aqaba hosts 110 species of soft corals and 120 species of hard corals. The waters and reefs which fringe the Gulf contain over 1,000 species of fish, corals, crustaceans, and mammals. Nocturnal crustaceans such as crab, shrimp, and lobster appear in search of food in the dark hours of the night. Seasonal visitors to the Gulf of Aqaba include sea turtles, dolphins, sea cows, and the harmless whale shark.

The Wadi Rum Desert is dominated by massive mountains colored in shades of red, yellow and orange. Rum’s moonlike landscape contains an eco-system that hosts many rare and endemic plants. Spring reveals hundreds of species of wild flowers. Some 120 bird species have been recorded in the area, including the Griffon Vulture, the Fan-Tailed Raven, Bonelli’s Eagle, and Hume’s Tawny Owl. Baseline surveys also show the existence of the Grey Wolf, Blandford’s Fox, the Sand Cat, and Ibex within the area.