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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.
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