Latest news with #Turaif
Arab News
03-07-2025
- Arab News
Turaif: Historical, cultural mosaic tracing back to pre-Islamic eras
TURAIF: Located in Saudi Arabia's Northern Borders region, Turaif governorate stands as a crossroads of ancient civilizations and historical events, serving as a gateway to Iraq and the Levant. The governorate is home to a range of culturally and historically rich heritage sites, many of which date back to pre-Islamic times. Among the most prominent heritage landmarks is the archaeological site of Qasr Duqrah, situated 40 kilometers southwest of the governorate. Adjacent to it lies a mountain known as 'Aqran,' also referred to as Duqrah Mount, which has been recorded under the Comprehensive Archaeological Survey Program. Saudi Historical Society member Zahi Al-Khalawi stressed that the site known as 'Duqrah' is among the Kingdom's most significant archaeological locations, given the discovery of material evidence indicating human settlement since the Stone Age. He noted that habitation at the site continued through the later Roman period (2nd to 6th centuries CE) and persisted into the Umayyad era (661 to 750 CE). Another landmark is the Trans-Arabian Pipeline (Tapline), one of Saudi Arabia's most significant industrial heritage sites. The pipeline stretches from the east of the Kingdom to its north, passing through Turaif, and has been registered in the National Industrial Heritage Register. It is the first officially documented industrial heritage site in the Kingdom, representing the early stages of Saudi Arabia's oil industry and its developmental and economic significance. Also noteworthy is the site of Qaru Turaif, a water source developed by the Tapline Company in the 1950s to help settle nomadic communities by order of the late King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al-Faisal Al Saud. The site has been listed as part of the governorate's cultural heritage. To the east of Turaif, about 25 kilometers away, stands Jabal Umm Waal, a historic landmark and northern gateway into the Arabian Peninsula. The mountain tells the stories of Bedouin life and the passage of trade caravans and pilgrims traveling from the Levant and Iraq. For centuries, it served as a safe route for travelers making their way southward.
Arab News
25-05-2025
- General
- Arab News
Over 1,245 wild animals resettled so far in Saudi Arabia's largest natural reserve
TURAIF: King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Natural Reserve (KSRNR), Saudi Arabia's largest, has so far resettled more than 1,245 wild animals, according to the Saudi Press Agency. The reserve has also recorded over 120 births among its wildlife, SPA said, citing records of the KSRNR Development Authority as it marked International Day for Biological Diversity on May 22. Located in the Kingdom's north, the reserve is home to over 290 species of migratory birds, more than 550 types of wild and grazing plants, and over 350 species of various mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. Among these animals are the rare deer, the Arabian gazelle, the Arabia oryx, and the kestrel, a medium-sized bird of prey. KSRNR covers an area of 130,000 square kilometers, spanning the provinces of Hail, Tabuk, Jouf, and the Northern Borders. The reserve hosts a diversity of physical geography, consisting of 14 geographic formations of mountains, plains, and plateaus, and rare monuments dating back to about 8,000 BC. Also within the reserve are villages, such as Al Qurayyat and Tubarjal towns in the Jouf and the city of Turaif in the Northern Borders. The authority has said the reserve is dedicated to preserving unique natural habitats, transforming into a haven for wildlife, a crucial stopover for migratory birds each year, and a natural sanctuary with its balanced environment and diverse landscapes. Since its inception, the authority has focused on raising environmental awareness within the local community to bolster its conservation efforts. It aims to enhance natural habitats, minimize both natural and human threats, and achieve its ambitious strategic goals. Among its latest initiative was a voluntary seed scattering in six valleys on reserve territory, including Nayal Valley of Niall Shuaib Abu Talihat, Fager Valley, Shaib al Qilayyib, Sarbout Plath, Mot and Masaha Valleys. 'The two-month initiative aims to develop vegetation and increase the green area of the reserve, with the participation of several voluntary associations and volunteers, by scattering an estimated four tons of seeds,' the authority posted on its website.
