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East of Amman,
a desert, rocky plain extends to Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The two most important
cities in that plain are Azraq and as-Safawi and the main attraction in this area
are the desert castles.
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Most of those castles have been built or transformed by omeyyades sovereigns from
Damascus at the end of the VII century, or beginning of the VIII.
The castles of Azraq and Hallabat originate from the Roman epoch and traces of
the Nabatean occupation have been found there.
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The firsts Arab sovereigns where Bedouins and the reasons why they decided to
built castles are still difficult to understand. The best answer to this question
is that it is probably for love of the desert, as around those places were usually
found artificial oasis with fruits, vegetables and birds.
From Amman only one day is needed to make this instructive excursion that will
include Qasr al-Hallabat, Hammam as-Sarakh, Qusayr' Amra, Qasr al-Kharaneh and
Qasr al-Mushatta.
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South-west of the oasis city of Azraq, lies the nature reserve of Shaumari where
some animal species are protected, number of those animals were to be found in
this area as it is the only water point in this part of Jordan.
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