Dana Nature Reserve
Dana Nature Reserve is a reserve in southern Jordan. It has wooded highlands, rocky slopes, gravel plains, and sand dunes. There are many mountains and valleys and 4 distinct vegetation zones. Dana is 320 square kilometers. The reserve was established in 1993. Dana ranges from the top of Rift Valley to the bottom of Wadi Araba. The difference between these two heights is 1600 meters!
When we we went to Dana Nature Reserve, Gibson flipped a rock and found a Death Stalker Scorpion! We got really close to it but then a guide told us it was the most poisonous in the world so we backed off. We also saw an Nubian Ibex, which I spotted (and see picture at bottom) and lots of lizards.
Dana is home to: 2/5 of the amphibians of Jordan, 36/970 of the reptiles, 200/415 birds, and 45/77 mammals. There are also 25 endangered or vulnerable species,and over 600 plants. Dana has 200-300 invertebrates making it a home to 449 animal species!
There have been people living in Dana since 4000 B.C. Paleolithic people, Egyptians, Nabateans, and Romans have come to Dana because of the fertile soil and water springs leaving behind over 100 archeological sights.
Now Dana Nature Reserve is a camping and hiking area for tourist. The tourist pay to get in and rent tents to camp out in. The money from the tourists runs the park.
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June 30th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Dear Sterling,
My family is fascinated with deadly animals, reptiles and insects. Specifically, my son Wyatt (aged 5) and daughter Alexandra (aged 3) can never get enough of the Danger Associated With Close Proximity To Deadly Creatures. Thus, your blog entry about the Death Stalker Scorpion has been a favorite of theirs for some time now. It was a bit hard to convince them that your brother found it by flipping over a rock, and even tougher to assert that you both had been within touching distance of it. I believe they were both overcome with feelings of awe and envy. We admire the physics of the scorpion sting, and the efficacy of the venom process. Thank you for providing information about this interesting (and frightening) creature as well as the broader context of the Dana Reserve in Jordan. Sadly, I am now being asked “can we go there to see the scorpions?” which has set the bar pretty high for me as a parent as I am personally terrified of such things. You and your brother are quite brave and adventurous, and I take off my hat to you both.
Sincerely,
Helen Waters