Wadi Rum Protected Area, World Heritage Site in Jordan

Wadi Rum is located in southern Jordan near the border with Saudi Arabia. The site is a wadi (dry valley) with various valleys and arches, where you can see a spectacular view of the desert created by nature.The site is also home to 25,000 rock carvings and other heritage sites that show the evolutionary footprints of mankind, which has lived with nature here for 12,000 years.

Here, a World Heritage enthusiast explains why the Wadi Rum Protected Area is a World Heritage Site in an easy-to-understand manner. Read this and you will definitely learn more about Wadi Rum!

What is the Wadi Rum Protected Area?

The protected area is 74,200 hectares of land in southern Jordan registered. Most of the area is desert, with narrow valleys between cliffs, rock arches, and caves that show the evolution of the earth over millions of years.Its unique and spectacular scenery is often used as a filming location for movies, including “Lawrence of Arabia,” “The Odyssey,” and “Star Wars: Dawn of the Skywalkers.

In particular, it is associated with Thomas Edward Lawrence, the model for “Lawrence of Arabia,” and the “Seven Pillars of Wisdom” and the spectacular view spot are named after his books.

Wadi Rum also has a cultural heritage, with 25,000 rock carvings and over 20,000 inscriptions attesting to the fact that humans have been active here for 12,000 years.And the site is also dotted with historical sites from various periods, including the Thamudic script, from which the Arabic language was derived, and remains from the Nabatean Kingdom period.Wadi Rum, as a heritage complex, is also a heritage site that shows the evolution of nature and mankind in the Arabian Peninsula.

For what reasons was the Wadi Rum Protected Area registered as a World Heritage Site?

Wadi Rum was recognized for

Registration Criterion (iii)
The rock carvings and inscriptions on the site can be regarded as evidence that people have been working at the site for 12,000 years.

Registration Criterion (v)
The rock carvings and inscriptions show that people have lived here from ancient times, and that they have continued to live even in the harsh desert environment.

Registration Criterion (vii )
The point is that the protected area is recognized worldwide as a magnificent desert landscape of cliffs and wadis, rock arches and bluffs.

Conclusions and Impressions of a World Heritage Site Enthusiast

Although it is a heritage site with a spectacular view of the desert, there are actually several archaeological sites on the site, which are registered as a composite heritage site. 12,000 years ago, there are also footprints of humans, making it an important spot, especially in human history.

…But as a tourist, it is the setting of Lawrence of Arabia and famous for rock climbing and hiking.It is often praised highly by movie directors, so there is no doubt that it is one of the world’s top natural beauties!

*The content here is a discussion derived from research conducted by World Heritage enthusiasts. As for the data, interpretation differs depending on the medium.