Petra, Jordan

Petra, also known as Raqmu or Raqm by its locals, is a historic and archaeological city in southern Jordan. It is located next to the Jabal Al-Madbah mountain, in a basin surrounded by mountains that constitute the eastern flank of the Arabah valley, which runs from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba. The Nabataeans were nomadic Arabs who established Petra as a key regional economic hub because of its closeness to the incense trade routes.

The Nabataeans made a lot of money from trading, and Petra became the center of their prosperity. Unlike their attackers, the Nabataeans were used to living in desolate deserts and were able to repel attacks by taking use of the area's rugged environment. Rainwater harvesting, agriculture, and stone sculpting were among their specialties. Petra reached its height in the first century AD, when the magnificent Al-Khazneh edifice – thought to be the mausoleum of Nabataean king Aretas IV – was built, and its population reached 20,000 people.

Petra is known as the "Rose Red City" because of the hue of the stone from which it is carved. It is known for its rock-cut architecture and water conduit system. Since 1985, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Petra is "one of the most significant cultural resources of man's cultural heritage," according to UNESCO. Petra is both a symbol of Jordan and the country's most popular tourist attraction. In 2019, the number of tourists reached 1.1 million for the first time, surpassing the 1 million milestones for the first time. Tourism in the city was crippled by the COVID-19 pandemic, but soon after started to pick up again, reaching 260,000 visitors in 2021.

Location: Ma'an Governorate, Jordan