Al-Qarah
25°24′35.97″N 49°41′18.77″E / 25.4099917°N 49.6885472°E
Al-Garah (Arabic: قَرْيَة ٱلْقَارَة, romanized: Qaryat Al-Qārah) is a village in Al-Ahsa, in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. It known for its small mountain, and is one of Al-Ahsa Oasis' eastern villages and is located about 10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of the center of Al-Hofuf,[1] 140 km (87 mi) southwest of Dammam, and 300 km (190 mi) east of Riyadh.[2]
Jabal Al-Qarah[edit]
Jabal Al-Qarah is a mesa that stands about 75 metres (246 ft) high,[1] with a maximum elevation of 225 m (738 ft) above sea level.[2] It has many caves with very cool air inside. Unlike many caves, these were formed by subaerial weathering rather than dissolution, and as a result have a highly distinctive shape.[1] The mountain attracts many people especially from nearby villages, and has been targeted for additional touristic development.[3] Although there are no other hills for a considerable distance,[4] Jabal Al-Qarah is an outlier of the larger Shedgum Plateau.[1]
The caves, which include 28 tall linear passageways totaling 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) in length, have long been a site of commerce.[1] Some caves of Jabl Al-Garah have traditionally been the site of the workshops of local traditional potters, who are known for the quality of their wares.[4][5]
A plaque about the mountain and a parking lot near the main access trail is at 25°24′41″N 49°41′34″E / 25.411509°N 49.692755°E.
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e Mahbub Hussain; Fadhel Al-Khalifah; Nazrul Islam Khandaker (April 2006). "The Jabal Al Qarah Caves of the Hofuf Area, Northeastern Saudi Arabia: A geological investigation" (PDF). Journal of Cave and Karst Studies. 68 (1): 12–21. Retrieved 2017-12-04.
- ^ a b Agron, Edmon (1 September 2018). "Al Qarah Caves: Amazing narrow canyons and nature's fascinating views". eVolved. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- ^ Sultan Al-Sughair. "Hofuf's Al-Qarah village to be developed". Arab News.
- ^ a b Erik Mandaville (May 1988). "An Arabian Cave Potter" (PDF). Ceramics Monthly. pp. 36–39.
- ^ "The Potters of al-Qarah". Saudi Aramco World. October 1961.
