In the eastern desert of Jordan, more than 100 kms from the capital Amman, lies the small town Azraq. The local people are Chechen, descendents of settlers from the Caucasus, and the Druze from Arab tribes in Syria and Lebanon. Worth seeing is Qasr Azraq, built by the Romans in the 3rd century, and was heavily modified in the Middle Ages by the Mameluks. In 1917/18 T. E. Lawrence, known as Lawrence of Arabia, used the castle as headquarter during the Arab Revolt.

Close to the town Azraq Oasis is located. This is an unique wetland through the only permanent source of fresh water in approximately 12,000 square kilometres of desert. The name Azraq means "blue". Visitors can see here several natural and ancient built pools, a seasonally flooded marshland, and a large mudflat. Many birds stop each year for a rest during their migration routes between Asia and Africa, it is a popular place for bird watching as you can see common crane, common shelduck, houbara bustard and thick-billed lark. The oasis is also home for water buffalos. Azraq Oasis is an important underground water source for Jordan and since many years in danger due to the growing water demand from Amman and other cities. Since 1977 efforts are made to preserve the Azraq Wetland Reserve.