Photos from the Wadi Rum Desert Marathon
Wadi Rum Marathon
Images by Bedouin Heritage Project
The Wadi Rum Marathon is an endurance horse race through the desert’s surrounding the Wadi Rum Protected Zone. The event was reborn thanks to the contribution of Sheik Al-Maktoum of the Emirates and has been essential in recreating the horse culture of local bedouin. This year’s race was a qualifying event for international competition and covered 80km in total over three heats.
While Al-Maktoum was not in attendance this year, dignataries from Jordan and around the world were present to cheer on the riders and horses, alike. Governed by an international community of animal rights specialists, controls are made at regular interviews ensuring the horses are coping well with the often difficult conditions. Any horse not found to be in perfect health is disqualified imediately and checks were conducted between every heat.
Commencing at 6am and finishing by noon, the race is a perfect excuse for admiring the changing light and temperature of the late fall desert.
The Jordanian Royal family 1952-present
“The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a constitutional monarchy with representative government. The reigning monarch is the head of state, the chief executive and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The King exercised his executive authority through the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers (Cabinet).” (Jordanian Government Website 2009)
By the time of his death in February 1999, King Hussein (who became king in 1952)was well on his way to becoming one of the great peacemakers in history. From his frantic efforts at diplomacy to avert the 1991 Gulf War to his peace agreement with Israel in 1994, the articulate king came to be seen as a beacon of moderateness and stability in a region known for its volatility. He had three other siblings being Prince Muhammad, Prince Hassan, and Princess Basma. Hussein went on to marry four times, sired eleven children and adopted one daughter. Read more
The Sedentarization of the Bedouin People
At the beginning of the 1970s a modernisation and urbanization process was exercised on the Bedouin which profoundly influenced their way of life and hence was detrimental to their traditions. This process involved housing the Bedouin in purpose built urban centres based on western planning models.
In reality, it is since the 50’s that some sort of modernising process has been inflicted upon the Bedouin people of Jordan involving detribalisation and sedentarization, through state sponsored agricultural projects and education.
Rum Village itself is an example of this production of cheap housing, mirroring the typical Jordanian suburb built during the 1970s, which was constructed around the Desert Patrol fort, the school and the rest house. Read more
Jordan: The Essentials
- Jordan is bordered by the middle Eastern Countries of Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia and is made up of 3 regions; the Jordan Valley, the East Bank Plateau and the desert, which contributes to 80% of this makeup. Its population amounts to 6,198,677 (July 2008 est.). Arabic is spoken and most speak English, the latter, to some, is considered to be a second language. And with regard to religion, Islam is the most predominant.
- The country is ruled by His Majesty King Abdullah II. He successfully continues his father’s, Hussein, peacemaking through diplomacy. The country’s constitution formed in 1951 is that of parliamentary government with a limited monarchy. The large Palestinian representation in government and in population has had Jordan on the fringes of civil war many times.
- The majority of Jordan’s population is of Bedouin origin. Some are nomads but most have settled and combine the two lifestyles to some degree. However, although government infrastructures and services are present and available to the Bedouin, some are happy to rely on the traditions that have served them well enough in the past. Read more
History of Jordan: Israel, the West Bank, and its Palestinian Population 1918-present.
Jordan’s geographical position, amongst many other factors, has been a large factor in its history and is still apparent today. This applies especially to the history of its boarder with Israel and its relationship with the Palestinan population which has spurred conflict throughout the middle east over a long period of time.
Jordan was liberated from the clutches of the Ottoman Empire in 1918 and as a part of British Administered Palestine was divided into a nominal self ruling emirate as Transjordan to the east of the Jordan River. It became a fully independent state in 1946 and Abdullah was proclaimed king in 1948. It joined other Arab countries in a war against the newly created state of Israel in which it occupied parts of the West Bank and the old city of Jerusalem.
In 1950 the West Bank was formally annexed by Transjordan and the country was renamed Jordan. However an influx of Palestinian refugees virtually doubled the country’s population and this increase in Palestinian presence, over the years, would eventually lead to the formation of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) in 1964. This was followed shortly by the birth of the Palestine National Council (PNC) created to represent the Palestine people as the nearest thing to a Palestinian government. The leader of the National Liberation Movement, known as Al-Fatah, Yasser Arafat, became the chair of the executive committee of the PLO in 1969. Read more
Jordan Times | Balance between responsible tourism and preservation required for heritage sites
Jordan Times | Balance between responsible tourism and preservation required for heritage sites
Despite their heightened profile, the Kingdom’s World Heritage Sites still require protection and have yet to reach their full economic potential, “It is not always clear what type of impact tourism has on World Heritage Sites,” she told The Jordan Times yesterday, noting that threats to heritage sites across the world have ranged from ecological and economic to the number of visitors.
With the growing fame of the rose-red city of Petra in light of its selection as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, both the government and private sector will have to work together to preserve important sources of revenue, history and pride, said Harrington, who met with tourism industry leaders in Amman yesterday.
Spiegel Online article on Wadi Rum
(German) article on Wadi Rum in Spiegel magazine.
Bedouin guides of Wadi Rum
An example of a Bedouin tourist website. Bedouins introduce themselves and their tours, hiking and (camel) trekking trips – making tourists experience “the highpoint of their holiday” in Wadi Rum.
U.S. Department of State, Background Note on Jordan
U.S. Department of State Background Note on Jordan. Realtively clearly laid out texts on facts (People, History, Government, Political Conditions, Economy, Foreign Relations, U.S. – Jordanian Relations).
Facts on Jordan, CIA Website
Facts on Jordan (Geography, People, Government, Economy, Communications, Transportation, Military, Transnational Issues) found on the CIA website “The World Factbook”, updated March 5th 2009.
