Jabal Haraz, Mountain region with fortified villages in western Yemen.
Jabal Haraz is a mountain region with fortified villages in western Yemen, where sandstone and basalt buildings rise on rocky peaks. The mountain chain stretches between Sanaa and Al-Hudaydah and features extensive terracing systems that follow the hillsides.
During the Himyarite Kingdom period, Jabal Haraz functioned as a caravan route before becoming the central stronghold of the Sulayhid dynasty in the 11th century. This shift from a trade passage to a political power base shaped the region's development.
The villages display traditional mud-brick architecture with houses arranged as protective walls, showing how people have shaped the landscape through generations of farming. The terraced fields reflect how residents have adapted to living on steep slopes and made the land productive.
Manakhah, the central town of the mountain chain, hosts a regular market where people from surrounding villages gather. The paths between settlements are steep and rocky, so sturdy footwear and careful footing are essential when moving around.
The terraced slopes produce high-quality Mocha coffee beans grown in the higher elevations. Beyond coffee, alfalfa, millet, and lentils thrive across different height zones, showing how the region supports varied crops.
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