Many people want to know about the Azraq Wetlands Reserve, which is located in the eastern desert in Jordan, which is approximately 115 kilometers away from Amman, and it was given this name due to the presence of many areas covered by swamps and water ponds.

This reserve is considered one of the reserves that are included within the national network of all natural reserves that are included in the national network of natural reserves that exist in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and it is considered the first wetland reserve that is within the international Ramsar Convention within Jordan.

Azraq Wetland Reserve

The Azraq Wetlands Reserve was established within the Zarqa Governorate within the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in 1978 AD, with the aim of working to protect the physical revolution, and also to protect the oasis. This reserve covers an area of ​​​​up to 12,000 kilometers, and that this reserve is of very great importance because of its location between all From the limestone desert to the west and the basalt desert to the east.

It has an extremely rare water system, and it was declared as the first wetland area of ​​great importance on the road between Africa and Eurasia. Work is underway to classify this reserve as one of the fourth category of habitat and all-species reserves, which is according to the classification of the International Union of Nature Reserves. .

Objectives of the Azraq Wetland Reserve

There are many goals that the Azraq Reserve seeks to achieve, the most important of which are the following:

• Raising the percentage of depleted water and also restoring all wetlands, in addition to biodiversity.
• It attracts both researchers and tourists in order to observe both migratory birds and follow the behavior of birds.
• Rehabilitation of the natural habitat designated for the Sarhani fish and its reproduction.
• Improving and rehabilitating the natural habitat and protecting it from the continuous pumping of the Azraq Basin water.

Wildlife and nature within the Azraq Wetland Reserve 

We can work on describing the nature of the Azraq Wetland Reserve and its wildlife in the following points:

Geographic nature

The nature of the Zarqa Reserve lands is characterized by being wet, which makes it a suitable habitat for many of the living organisms that reside there.

Plant species

The reserve contains approximately 141 species of aquatic plants, including the Persian reed plant, the sammar plant, the halfa plant, the gecko plant, the tamarisk plant, the marsh plant, and the mud and salt bottom plants, in addition to the presence of about 81 species of algae.

animal species 

This reserve contains approximately more than 18 species of mammals, including red foxes and hyenas. It also contains 163 or more species of invertebrates, in addition to the presence of two species of amphibians, and about 11 species of reptiles.

the birds

The reserve has many different birds, as it has 274 diverse bird species, in addition to many ospreys and butterflies.

fish

The Azraq Wetland Reserve includes many different types of fish, but it is considered the only incubator in the entire world for the Sarhani fish.

Historical importance of Azraq Wetland Reserve 

The Azraq Wetland Reserve has a very great historical importance, because it contains a group of reasons that made it one of the most important reserves in Jordan, and the reasons are:

• The reserve includes many historical monuments and treasures dating back to many Islamic antiquity. It also has a basalt wall that is black and brown in color, dating back to the Umayyad era.
• It was discovered that there is the oldest human skeleton in all of Jordan, which dates back to the early Mesolithic Age.
• Many recent discoveries have been made of a unique artifact found within the reserve, which consists of protein remains dating back approximately 250,000 years BC, for a group of birds and wild creatures, which goes back to the Canadian expedition. Which works to uncover important antiquities from all over the world.

Activities in the reserve 

There are many fun activities within the reserve that you can practice very easily, and the most important of these activities are the following:

• Explore the Azraq Wetland Reserve and work on observing all the migratory birds and water buffalo by walking on the wooden path.
• Touring by bicycle within the reserve, with the aim of working to see all the beautiful and natural views of all the mud flats spread in the eastern desert and the Qaa area.
• Enjoy a large tour in Azraq via the bicycle path in Azraq village, with the aim of getting to know the distinctive castles and palaces surrounding the reserve, in addition to learning about the history of the region, and also the lifestyle that prevails there.
• Dealing with and getting to know all the residents of the region, while working on preparing Jordanian food with them.

Services provided by the reserve 

The reserve is a stopping point for all migratory birds, and it is considered the ideal place to watch and observe all types of rare local and migratory birds. All visitors can work on observing birds from a distance.

This reserve includes many activities and facilities that all visitors can enjoy without having to leave it in order to meet their needs. It is also possible for visitors to stay close to the reserve and go down into the blue, which is available throughout the entire year.

 In addition to the presence of a natural cinema that all guests can see, as well as documents about history and nature, it has a wonderful view of a desert nature, as there are many sand and mud flats in the Azraq Basin. This hostel was in the past a private military hospital during the British colonial period.

Handicrafts in the reserve

The Azraq Reserve includes many workshops for handicrafts that produce many local products, including the Azraq Atelier, which provides drawing on ostrich eggs, which is done manually using the drip and engraving method, in addition to a special workshop for silk-screen printing, which is environmentally friendly. There is also a sewing workshop that enables all visitors to the reserve to obtain the design they desire.

The reserve also contains many educational games. It has designed a group of games, including the Wild Monopoly game, which has received great promotion among all visiting families. There is also a packaging factory, which has gained a great reputation, where work is done on packaging. All products are made through Bedouin packaging, and all employees have the ability to design many wonderful shapes of packaging boxes.

Through this article, we have presented all the important points surrounding the Azraq Wetland Reserve, which is considered an ideal place for family visits.