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Dana is with 320 square
kms Jordan's largest
nature reserve, located
in south-central Jordan.
The reserve consisting
of wadi and mountains is
featured by varied
geology and wildlife.
The Dana Reserve,
founded in 1989, is
composed of a chain of
valleys and mountains
which extend from the
top of the Jordan Rift
Valley down to the
desert lowlands of Wadi
Araba. Landmarks are the
Rummana Mountain, the
ancient archaeological
ruins of Feynan, and the
red and white sandstone
cliffs of Wadi Dana. The
reserve contains a
remarkable diversity of
landscapes that range
from wooded highlands to
rocky slopes and from
gravel plains to sand
dunes. Moreover, Dana
supports diverse
wildlife which includes
a variety of rare
species of plants and
animals; Dana is home to
about 600 species of
plants, 37 species of
mammals and 190 species
of birds. 25 are known
to be endangered,
including the Sand Cat
and the Syrian Wolf.
Dana Village has been
occupied since about
4000 BC. Archaeological
evidence indicates that
Palaeolithic, Egyptian,
Nabatean, and Roman
civilisations have been
drawn to the area by the
fertile soil, water
springs, and strategic
location. Since 400
years the area is
inhabited from the
people of the Ata'ta
tribe. You can explore
the beauty of the area
via several hiking
trails:
The 2.5 km long Rummana
Trail (2 hrs) leads from
the Rummana campsite to
the scenic summit of
Rummana Mountain. You
will pass rockstructures
with mysterious
mushroom-shaped
formations and you may
see birds-of-prey. On
your way down from the
summit, you see remnants
of a military site
dating from the
Hellenistic period and
an old Roman well. The
hike down to the
campsite continues
through a Juniper
forest. The Village Tour
(2 hrs) takes you to
some points with
spectacular views, while
exploring the terraced
gardens and local
community craftshops.
A guide is mandatory for
the hard Dana Village
Trail (4 hrs),
connecting the Rummana
Campsite with the Dana
Village. You have to
scramble over some
rocks, walk along Wadi
Shagg al Kelbe (Wadi of
the Dog) and round steep
slopes of Wadi Dana. The
same distance you have
to trek on the White
Dome Trail (4 hrs) which
offers great views and
passes through terraced
gardens. If you prefer a
long hike choose the 14
km trail from Dana to
Wadi Feynan (5-6 hrs),
passing different
vegetation zones like
Mediterranean forest to
the desert of Feynan.
From September till June
it is possible to visit
on a 3-4 hours hike the
ancient copper mines in
Wadi Feynan and Khirbet
Feynan with Byzantine
churches and graves. And
the Wadi Ghweir Trail
(3-4 hrs) passes via
Khirbet Feynan to Wadi
Feynan. It continues
along the gravel river
bed, alongside a stream
to the entrance of Wadi
Ghweir. If time permits
you can make a small
excursion into the
Ghweir canyon.
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