Wadi Dawan, Valley settlement in Hadhramaut Governorate, Yemen
The Wadi Dawan extends through steep cliffs flanked by numerous mud brick villages constructed along the terraced mountainsides of central Yemen.
The settlement dates back several centuries as a vital trade route connecting various civilizations, including the Hadhrami people who established permanent residences.
Local residents maintain traditional building techniques using mud bricks to construct multi-story houses that reflect the architectural methods of their ancestors.
The region experiences temperatures reaching 38 degrees Celsius during summer months, making early morning or late afternoon the preferred times for exploration.
The village of Al-Hajarayn sits perched on a cliff edge within Wadi Dawan, featuring the 15th-century Tomb of Hasan ibn Hasan.
Location: Hadhramaut Governorate
GPS coordinates: 15.26420,48.34080
Latest update: March 5, 2025 05:45
Yemen offers photographers subjects ranging from the ancient mud architecture of Sanaa to volcanic craters and the geological formations of Socotra. The Old City of Sanaa presents multi-story tower houses decorated with white gypsum patterns, while Shibam in Hadhramaut displays mud-brick high-rises dating from the 16th century. The fortress of Kawkaban sits atop a high plateau, the village of Hababah demonstrates traditional mountain architecture, and Shaharah Bridge connects two mountain peaks at an elevation exceeding 8,500 feet (2,600 meters). Socotra features Detwah Lagoon, dragon blood trees and limestone caves within its distinct ecosystem. The crater of Haradha Damt is an extinct volcano near Damt, the Marib Dam represents Sabaean engineering from antiquity, and the ruins of Arsh Balqis mark an ancient temple site. Wadi Dawan cuts through Hadhramaut with palm groves and mud villages, Jabal al-Nabi Shu'ayb reaches 12,028 feet (3,666 meters) as the highest peak on the Arabian Peninsula, and Zabid preserves its role as a historic center of Islamic scholarship. Sira Fortress in Aden occupies a volcanic rock above the harbor, Dar al-Hajar in Wadi Dhahr is an 18th-century palace built on a rock outcrop, and Al Saleh Mosque in Sanaa dates from 2008.
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