Dana Nature Reserve
Encyclopedia
Dana Biosphere Reserve is Jordan's largest nature reserve, located in south-central Jordan
. Dana Biosphere Reserve was founded in 1989 in the area in and around the Dana village
and Wadi Dana comprising 308 square kilometres (119 sq mi).
, sandstone
, and granite
. The area of Wadi Dana features wind-cut sandstone
cliffs. Dana is the only nature reserve in Jordan that crosses four bio-geographical zones; Mediterannean, Irano-Turanian, Saharo-Arabian, and Sudanian penatration.
species, 215 species of birds, and 38 species of mammals.
. Of the hundreds of plants species inhabiting Dana, three can be found nowhere else in the world. Many plants, especially trees and shrubs, grow in the highlands of the nature reserve.
, Syrian Serin,Caracal , and Lesser Kestrel
are natives of Wadi Dana and plans to save the species were put forth by Global Environment Fund in 1994. Additionally, the largest breeding colony of the Syrian Serin
is in Dana Nature Reserve. Threats to the animals continue to include hunting.
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
. Dana Biosphere Reserve was founded in 1989 in the area in and around the Dana village
Dana, Jordan
Dana is a small village near the city of Tafilah, in central-western Jordan. It is situated on the edge of a large natural gorge, Wadi Dana and enjoys spectacular view over Wadi Araba....
and Wadi Dana comprising 308 square kilometres (119 sq mi).
Human presence
The people of the Ata'ta (or Al Atata) tribe are the native inhabitants of Dana Biosphere Reserve. Their history in Dana dates 400 years, but their original settlement in the area dates more than 6000 years. Besides the presence of the Ata'ta people, archeological discoveries suggest Palaeolithic, Egyptian, Nabataean, and Roman settlement in Dana.Accommodations
Visitors to Dana Nature Reserve and Dana village can stay at Dana Cooperative Hotel and other accommodations.Geography
Dana Biosphere Reserve drops from an altitude of 1500 metres (4,921.3 ft) on the Qadisiyah plateau to the low-lying desert area of Wadi Araba. The varied geology of Dana contains limestoneLimestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
, sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
, and granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
. The area of Wadi Dana features wind-cut sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
cliffs. Dana is the only nature reserve in Jordan that crosses four bio-geographical zones; Mediterannean, Irano-Turanian, Saharo-Arabian, and Sudanian penatration.
Flora and fauna
The diverse environment of Dana is home to 703 plantPlant
Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
species, 215 species of birds, and 38 species of mammals.
Plants
Dana is the most diverse area of plant life in the country, consisting of numerous vegetation types including: Phoenician Juniper, evergreen oak, sand dunes, acacia, and rocky sudanian. Dana is the southernmost area in the world to host the Mediterranean Cypress, Cupressus sempervirensCupressus sempervirens
Cupressus sempervirens, the Mediterranean Cypress is a species of cypress native to the eastern Mediterranean region, in northeast Libya, southeast Greece , southern Turkey, Cyprus, Northern Egypt, western Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Malta, Italy, western Jordan, and also a disjunct population in...
. Of the hundreds of plants species inhabiting Dana, three can be found nowhere else in the world. Many plants, especially trees and shrubs, grow in the highlands of the nature reserve.
Endangered species
The threatened Nubian IbexNubian Ibex
The Nubian ibex is a desert-dwelling goat species found in mountainous areas of Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Egypt, Ethiopia, Yemen, Sudan, and Pakistan. It is generally considered to be a subspecies of Alpine ibex, but is sometimes considered specifically distinct...
, Syrian Serin,Caracal , and Lesser Kestrel
Kestrel
The name kestrel, is given to several different members of the falcon genus, Falco. Kestrels are most easily distinguished by their typical hunting behaviour which is to hover at a height of around over open country and swoop down on prey, usually small mammals, lizards or large insects...
are natives of Wadi Dana and plans to save the species were put forth by Global Environment Fund in 1994. Additionally, the largest breeding colony of the Syrian Serin
Syrian Serin
The Syrian Serin is a brightly coloured small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae.- Description :The Syrian Serin is prettily coloured with bright yellow and pale grey feathers. The eyes are large and are surrounded by a bright yellow ring. The beak is grey and the legs are pale...
is in Dana Nature Reserve. Threats to the animals continue to include hunting.
See also
- Mujib Nature ReserveWadi MujibWadi Mujib is a gorge in Jordan which enters the Dead Sea at 410 meters below sea level.The Mujib Reserve of Wadi Mujib is the lowest nature reserve in the world, located in the mountainous landscape to the east of the Dead Sea, approximately 90 km south of Amman...
- Azraq Wetland Reserve
- List of nature reserves in Jordan