Petra

Petra is the Nabatean ruins of the city, located in the south-western Jordan. It is located in a rocky valley, which leads one narrow way among the rocks - As-Sik gorge. Petra is famous for its buildings carved into the rocks. In ancient times, during the period from the third century BC to the first century AD, the city experienced its glory days, being the capital of the Nabatean kingdom. They called themselves Nabataeans Petra RQM (Rakmu), which means "multicolored".

Petra is located in the south-western part of the present Jordan. It is located in the upland, semi-desert, among the rocks stretching for a distance of approximately 1.6 kilometers from east to west and from north to south, being the western part of the massif of Jabal ash-gray.

Petra valley cuts through periodic riverbed - Wadi Musa, which is surrounded by plateaus tributaries, which has grown ancient Nabatean city. Area provide year-round water flows only slightly estate experience. A significant increase in population during the heyday of Petra, made ​​the Nabataeans had to expand the system water and rock tanks to store water for the ever growing population.

Before the Nabataeans Petra settled, the place from early Paleolithic lived in different groups of hunters, gatherers and later nomads. Archaeological traces also indicate a more permanent settlements in the Neolithic period, the place of (about 9000 BC). Until the Arab conquest of Petra valley was regularly inhabited by various nomadic groups.