Photo. Aqaba Fort.
© Travel Explorations.
Aqaba is
a coastal town with a population of 62,773 (1994) in the far south of Jordan
(29.5167° N 35.0° E). Aqaba is strategically important to Jordan as it is the
country's only seaport. It`s famous for its preserved coral reefs and
unique sea life, this Red Sea port city was, in ancient times, the main port for
shipments from the Red Sea to the Far East.
Aqaba consist of a few mud-brick houses and small gardens. It`s a
small and quiet city where the inhabitants live an easy life. While it only
rains once a month, small crops would grow well as there is abundant sweet water
just below the ground.
The Gulf of Aqaba is known for its warm water in winter. Its beach is very
fine and beautiful. Its sea is crystal clear where you can see a dazzling
underwater world of corals, colored fish and other marine life.
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There are a few palms, giving the area an oasis-like atmosphere.
Photo. Palms in the city makes its beautiful. The coasline is
seen in the behind the threes. © Travel Explorations. |
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By the beginning of the 16th century the Mamluk dynasty had fallen into
decline and the area came under the influence of the Ottoman Empire. Under the
Ottomans, the city declined in status, for 400 years remaining a simple fishing
village of little significance.
During World War I, Ottoman forces were forced to withdraw from the town
after a raid by Lawrence of Arabia and the Arab forces of Sharif Hussein in
1917, making the territory part of the of the Kingdom of Hijaz. The capture of
Aqaba helped open supply lines from Egypt up to Arab and British forces afield
further north in Transjordan and Palestine.
Photo. Tower in Aqaba.
© Travel
Explorations. |
 |
The town borders Eilat, Israel and there is a border post where it is
possible to cross between the two countries. Both Aqaba and Eilat are at the
head (inside) of the Gulf of Aqaba.
When the Israelites of the Exodus reached the north shore of the Gulf of
Akaba, a small village was already there. Later history, as recorded in the
Bible, called this village Ezion-geber.
The ancient village itself has not been found, it's location being either
further up the Wadi and silted over, or in the lee of the hillside, covered with
sand dunes. The winds, which roar down the rift valley toward the south, make a
location in the center of the rift unlikely.
This city, today called Elath of Israel, and Aqaba of Jordan, lies at a
crossroad between Palestine, Egypt, and the King's Highway through Edom
[Jordan]. Aqaba is 210 miles from Amman.
Stein Morten Lund. 29 August
2005
Additional
information
For more information about the story from ancient time,
you can read about it in the Bible. The Bible is a collection of books. It`s
divived into two testaments: the old and the new testament. The two main
versions (editions) of the Bible have been the most widely distributed of books.
It has also been translated more times, and into more languages, than any other
book. The complete Bible, or portions of it, have been translated into more than
2,100 languages. It is said that 5 billion copies of the Bible have been sold
since 1815.
Explore the Nabataen Empire on Travel Explorations. Read our
articles about the amazing wonders as Petra and Bedouin people in
Jordan.
We present hereby a tour operators from Jordan where travellers can book
their adventure tours.
The tour operator Jordan Beauty Tours made my tour
become a great adventure for life. Especially thanks to these persons: Joseph,
Ibrahim, Abdullah and Ali.
Contact information for our recommended tour operator in Jordan (who also
arrange tours to other countries in the Middle East):
Jordan Beauty
Tours
Tel. +962 795581644
Fax. +962 3 2154 999
E-mail: info@jordanbeauty.com
Website: www.jordanbeauty.com
Tourist St. Near
Movenpick Hotel
P.O.Box : 8
Petra
71810
JORDAN
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