ASIATOUR.COM
Jan Garanoz
Thanon Pemavipat
Chiang Rai, 57000
Thailand

Jordan / The Desert Castles / Qasr Azraq

Qasr Azraq is a castle built of basalt, located in the middle of the Azraq oasis, about 100km east of Amman. It was originally constructed as a Nabataean or Roman fort and was later rebuilt by the Mamelukes in the 13th century. T.E. Lawrence used the castle as his headquarters while fighting in the Arab Revolt and his office was in the room above the entrance gatehouse.

The Azraq oasis contains the only permanent source of fresh water in the surrounding 12 thousand square miles of desert and, in consequence, attracts a large number of birds en route for migration destinations. Part of the area is now protected as a wetlands reserve. Although up to 300 bird species were recorded visitors during the 1970s, this number has declined drastically, due to the pumping of water from the oasis to supply an ever-increasing demand in Amman.






Back to Asiatour


Initial Asian Countries
Thailand
Cambodia
Laos
Vietnam
Myanmar
Yunnan (China)
Malaysia
Philippines

Additional Asian Countries
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Bhutan
Brunei
China
Dubai
India
Indonesia
Iraq
Israel
Jordan
Korea
Kuwait
Maldives
Nepal
Oman
Pakistan
Qatar
Singapore
Sri Lanka
Uzbekistan

Africa
Algeria
Egypt
Morocco

This page: http://www.asiatour.com/jordan/e-07dese/ej-des11.htm
Created: September 1, 1995  -  Last updated: February 04, 2008