Aden (Yemen)
According to a2zgov, the city of Aden is located on the coast of the Gulf of Aden, 346 km southeast of Sana’a. It occupies a small peninsula connected to the mainland by a narrow isthmus. Aden has been known since the 1st century BC. e., as one of the most important ports on the way from India to Europe. In the 19th century, after the construction of the Suez Canal, the city became the main port of the Arabian Peninsula. From 1967 to 1990 Aden was the capital of South Yemen.
Old city of Aden located in the crater of an extinct volcano in the eastern part of the peninsula, for which he received his name “Crater”. From the west it is bounded by the Shamsan mountains. The architecture of the Old City shifted Yemeni, Indian and Victorian styles, because in the period from the 19th to the middle of the 20th century, Aden was part of the British colonial possessions. Along the perimeter of the Old City are the remains of the fortress wall and towers, and in its southern part are the Aden reservoirs, or the so-called Tawila cisterns. These are artificial pools carved into the rock, which served to supply the city with water and at the same time protect it from floods during heavy rains. The construction of the Aden reservoirs began in the 6th century AD. e. and now they are a fine example of the engineering thought of the ancient world. Under the British, they were modernized and only 13 out of 60 old tanks have survived to this day. Next to the Tavila tanks is the palace of the Sultan of Lahej, which now houses the National Museum with collections on the history and culture of the country. Al-Aydarus Mosque is also interesting in the Old City.. It was built in the 14th century in honor of the patron of the city – Aydarus. Be sure to visit the numerous markets, among which are the markets of Zaafaran, Bukhara and Al-Tawila. At the entrance to the harbor of the old port of Aden, there is a small rocky island, on top of which stands the fortress of Sira. The fortress is over a thousand years old. A little to the north stretches the beach area Abayan Coast.
In the western part of the peninsula behind the Shamsan mountains is the modern port of Al Tawai, built by the British. Next to it you can see the English tower – a symbol of British rule, which was nicknamed “Big Ben”. South of the modern port are the most popular resort areas of Aden – Gold Moor and Elephant Bay. Here on the coast there are hotels with their own beaches.
To the west of the peninsula on which the city of Aden is located, there is another peninsula where an international port was built, declared a free trade zone. The east coast of this peninsula is lined with popular beaches such as Blue Beach, Ghadir and Kood Al Namir. Also off the east coast are the islands of Habban and Salil, on the beaches of which you can relax perfectly.
Marib (Yemen)
The city of Marib is located 172 km east of Sana’a on the banks of the Wadi Danah at the western borders of the Ramlat es-Sabatain desert. A highway has been laid here from Sana’a.
It is believed that Marib was founded in the 2nd millennium BC. and was an important point on the caravan route passing from desert regions to mountainous areas. In the 1st millennium BC. in Marib was the capital of the kingdom of Saba. Under the Sabaeans in the 8th century BC. a dam was erected on the banks of the Wadi Danah, which for more than a thousand years supported the reservoir. The dam was built to irrigate the region with water that flowed down from the mountains between April and August. Its length was 720 m, height – 15 m, and thickness at the base – 60 m. The dam became the most grandiose structure of ancient Yemen. In the 2nd century A.D. e. the kingdom of Saba fell, the dam fell into disrepair, and Marib lost its significance. The former greatness of Marib was remembered only in 1986, when oil was found in the vicinity of the city. Later, a new one was built near the ancient dam.
Nowadays tourists go to Marib to see the ruins of an ancient dam, where you can see ancient Sabaean inscriptions, the remains of Sabaean temple complexes dedicated to the god of the moon, mosques and clay houses, and also to go on an exciting journey through the desert to the valley of the Masila River. It is best to travel through the desert areas on off-road vehicles. Along the way, you can see vast sandy fields, red mountains and fragrant oases, where ancient trading cities are located.
Before arriving in Marib, you can turn in the central part of the Sana-Marib highway in a northerly direction and visit the city of Barakish. It is located about 80 km from the highway. Barakish was founded in the 3rd millennium BC. It is known as the capital of the ancient state of Main. Barakish was a major trading center and was protected by a powerful fortress wall, which had 57 towers and two gates. The Sabaeans rebuilt the fortress wall in the 5th century BC. The remains of walls, the ruins of an ancient castle, columns of ancient temples, as well as stones with inscriptions in ancient languages have survived in the city to this day.
