Petra Tour: The Siq
The main access to Petra is a 1.2 km long gorge with steep walls up to 70 m high. Along the way there are remains of Nabataean water channels, cult niches and other interesting sights.
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After a destructive flash flood around the middle of the 1st century BC, the Nabataeans built an elaborate protection system (see the first photo page) and laid drinking water channels and pipes along both sides of the Siq into the city area. They also fortified the former gravel road by a paved road with a uniform gradient of 4.9% and a minimum width of 3 m, and sidewalks at some places. It was completed around 30 to 20 BC.
As of 1997, a Jordanian-Swiss team of engineers and archaeologists uncovered and restored parts of the old pavement.
© Photo, text: Haupt & Binder
The main access to Petra is a 1.2 km long gorge with steep walls up to 70 m high. Along the way there are remains of Nabataean water channels, cult niches and other interesting sights.