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AlUla's Majestic Gateway: Almazham Passage Blends Nature and History

AlUla's Almazham passage serves as a natural gateway welcoming travelers arriving from the north. (SPA)
AlUla's Almazham passage serves as a natural gateway welcoming travelers arriving from the north. (SPA)
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AlUla's Majestic Gateway: Almazham Passage Blends Nature and History

AlUla's Almazham passage serves as a natural gateway welcoming travelers arriving from the north. (SPA)
AlUla's Almazham passage serves as a natural gateway welcoming travelers arriving from the north. (SPA)

AlUla's Almazham passage serves as a natural gateway, welcoming travelers arriving from the north. This dramatic geological wonder consists of two towering, rocky mountains flanking a modern roadway. The mountains stretch roughly 300 meters in length and 50 meters in width, the Saudi Press Agency said on Sunday.
Almazham boasts a rich history as a passage for camel caravans and a crucial route for Hajj pilgrims from the Levant region.
Before the development of modern roads, this passage posed a significant challenge for travelers, particularly those with heavily laden camels, due to its steep inclines and dense sands.
Beyond its geographical significance, Almazham is a treasure trove of history. The passage walls are adorned with ancient inscriptions, drawings, and formations dating back thousands of years.
These markings left by passing travelers serve as testament to cultural exchange, shared prayers, and advice exchanged along the route.
Almazham passage offers breathtaking views of the nearby Hegra archaeological site. Lush farms surround the area from various directions, creating a captivating blend of historical significance and natural beauty.

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UN Puts 4th Century Gaza Monastery on Endangered Site List

The Saint Hilarion complex dates back to the fourth century. Mahmud HAMS / AFP/File
The Saint Hilarion complex dates back to the fourth century. Mahmud HAMS / AFP/File
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UN Puts 4th Century Gaza Monastery on Endangered Site List

The Saint Hilarion complex dates back to the fourth century. Mahmud HAMS / AFP/File
The Saint Hilarion complex dates back to the fourth century. Mahmud HAMS / AFP/File

The Saint Hilarion complex, one of the oldest monasteries in the Middle East, has been put on the UNESCO list of World Heritage sites in danger due to the war in Gaza, the body said Friday.
UNESCO said the site, which dates back to the fourth century, had been put on the endangered list at the demand of Palestinian authorities and cited the "imminent threats" it faced.
"It's the only recourse to protect the site from destruction in the current context," Lazare Eloundou Assomo, director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, told AFP, referring to the war sparked by Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel.
In December, the UNESCO Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict decided to grant "provisional enhanced protection" -- the highest level of immunity established by the 1954 Hague Convention -- to the site.
UNESCO had then said it was "already concerned about the state of conservation of sites, before October 7, due to the lack of adequate policies to protect heritage and culture" in Gaza.
The Hamas attack on October 7 resulted in the deaths of 1,197 people in Israel, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
Israel's retaliatory offensive against Hamas has killed at least 39,175 Palestinians in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry, which does not give details of civilian and militant deaths.