JORDAN ~ Wadi Rum National Park - UNESCO ~

... Great Jordan postcard nr2 and a fantastic new National Parkツ... the largest sand dunes in the Middle East... also known as the Valley of the Moon...  the landscape seems almost alien with the varying colours of the sand and the wind-water sculpted rocks.... the main activities are jeep tours, camel riding, rock climbing, hiking or sleeping under the stars.... nature's splendor at its best... and famous for "Lawrence of Arabia"... Thanks once more Kate!!❁◕ ‿ ◕❁

Wadi Rum  consists of 720 sq km and is a valley cut into the sandstone and granite rock in south Jordan, near the border with Saudi Arabia. A place where the mountains meet the desert, and includes highly contrasting red sand dunes. The mountains here are the highest you can find Jordan, at around 1800 m.

Wadi Rum is Arabic for "Sand Valley", as Rum means sand, especially light sand that can be carried by wind.

Almost all the people living in and around Wadi Rum today are of Bedouin origin and, until recently, led nomadic lives, relying on their goat herds. They are resourceful, hospitable people who are largely responsible for developing Wadi Rum as a tourist destination.

It became a National Park in 1998 and was inscriped as a UNESCO WHS in 2011.


Stamp:

Arc de Triomphe - Dated "1997"
(Issued 10-05-1998)

JORDAN ~ King Abdullah Mosque - Amman ~

... A great view of one of the many imposing mosques in the capital city... a fine example of modern Islamic architecture... and a beautiful place of worship... this is the only mosque in Amman where non Muslims can visit... you can learn some history and enjoy piece and quite time... Thanks a lot  Kate!!ヽ(ヅ)ノ

Photo: Mohsen Ulama
Amman, the modern and ancient capital of Jordan, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the World.

The King Abdullah Mosque was built between 1982 and 1986 as a memorial to the late King Hussein’s Grandfather, His Majesty As-Sayyid Abdullah I, King of Jordan. The mosque is capped by a magnificent blue mosaic dome, beneath which 3,000 Muslims can offer prayer at any one time.

Located inside the mosque is the Islamic Museum, with a collection of pottery and photographs of His Majesty King Abdullah I.

Stamp:

Arc de Triomphe - Dated "1997"
(Issued  10-05-1998)

JORDAN ~Petra at night - UNESCO~

Stunning and magical nightview of the passeway to the Treasure only lit by over 2500 candles...stamped on december 1, so I'm really glad it arrived after 3 months travelling...
Thanks a lot Rod!! http://travography.com/

With nice defentives stamp:
Hadrian's triumphal arch in Jerash
(Issued 1996- 1997)

The most famous attraction in Jordan is the Nabatean city of Petra.

The Siq opens up onto Petra’s most magnificent façade - the Treasury or Al Khazna. It stands at almost 40 meters high and is intricately decorated with friezes, statues and other features carved out of a single rock.

There is a funerary urn at the top of the Treasury which according to local legend conceals pharaoh’s treasures. Although the original function is still a mystery, the Khazna is believed by many archaeologists to be the mausoleum of King Aretas IV (9BC- 40AD).

JORDAN ~Petra-UNESCO~

...Must be one of my lucky weeks!!:D... My first great written and stamped postcard from a very famous and impressive site, Petra in Jordan...A new UNESCO site and one of the "7 Wonders of the World"...
And most of us know it also from the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade! Thanks a lot Luca!!

With nice archeology stamp featuring Hadrian's Triumphal arch in Jerash.

The most famous attraction in Jordan is the Nabatean city of Petra.
The city was hidden in the mountains for thousands of years untill a young Swiss explorer Johan Ludwig Burckhardt rediscovered it in 1812. Temples, tombs, and other buildings are all carved out of the sandstone cliffs, wich also gives it the name the "rose red city"
The Nabataeans, an industrious Arab people who settled here more than 2000 years ago, turning it into an important junction for the silk, spice and other trade routes that linked China, India and southern Arabia with Egypt, Syria, Greece and Rome.

Many relics can be seen in the Siq including a paved road and Nabataean sacred stones.

Jordan ~Petra-Unesco~

My first card from Jordan by Astrid sent from Holland.She went there on vacation. Petra is an archeological site in Jordan and the most impressive monument is this beautiful carved Monastry. The Monastry (al-Deir) was built more than 2000 years ago and probably a shrine for the Nabataean people of ancient Petra