Azraq Oasis

Azraq found about 110 kilometers east of Amman at the junction of roads leading north-east into Iraq and south-east into Saudi Arabia. With 12 square kilometers of lush parklands, pools and gardens, Azraq has the only water in the entire eastern desert.

The oasis is also home to a host of water buffalo and other wildlife. There are four mainsprings which supply Azraq with it's water as well as it's name, which in Arabic means "blue".

Over the past 15 years or so, the water level in Azraq's swamps has fallen dramatically because of large-scale pumping to supply Amman and Irbid. This has resulted in destruct a large part of the marshlands.

While Azraq remains one of the most important oases in the Middle East for birds migrating between Africa and Europe, it's declining water levels have led many species to bypass Azraq in favor of other stops.

The area was once home to many deer, bear, ibex, oryx, cheetah and gazelle, sadly countless animals decimated in the last sixty years by overzealous hunters.

Desert Castles: Qasr al-Hallaba | Azraq Oasis | Azraq Fort | Qusayr Amra| Qasr Kharaneh | Qasr al-Mushatta | Al-Qastal | Qasr Tuba | Al-Muwaqqar | Hammam Al-Sarah