Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country
in Western Asia. It spans the vast majority of the Arabian Peninsula, with a
land area of approximately 2,150,000 km2 (830,000 sq mi). Saudi Arabia is the
largest country in the Middle East, and the second-largest country in the Arab
world. It is bordered by Jordan and Iraq to the north, Kuwait to the northeast,
Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates to the east, Oman to the southeast
and Yemen to the south; it is separated from Egypt in the north-west by the
Gulf of Aqaba. Saudi Arabia is the only country with a coastline along both the
Red Sea and the Persian Gulf, and most of its terrain consists of arid desert,
lowland, steppe, and mountains. Its largest and capital city is Riyadh, and the
country is home to Mecca and Medina, the two holiest cities in Islam.
The Edge of the World (its real name is Jebel Fihrayn), one of Saudi’s
most popular tourist destinations, got its nickname from the uninterrupted view
of the horizon it offers atop its 300-meter-high cliffs, which overlook the
surrounding plain, you have an uninterrupted view of the horizon. It’s part of
the much longer Tuwaiq escarpment, and drops down roughly 305 meters into an
ancient ocean bed. From the top of the cliffs, you’ll spot dried rivers weaving
across the land and may even see camels moving far below — an ancient caravan
route once passed through these grounds.
The cliffs are the result of tectonic movement of the Arabian plate
toward the northeast caused by the spread of the Red Sea rift 1,000 kilometers
to the west of the Tuwaiq escarpment. The clear cut it carved reveals the
layers of sediments that accumulated there when the eastern part of the Arabian
Peninsula was a shallow tropical sea during the Jurassic period (150 million
years ago). As you walk along the path, keep an eye out for fossils, a vestige
of when the region was part of an ocean bed. As you’re capturing the views
around you, take pictures of any fossils you may come upon, as you will not be
allowed to take these artifacts out of the area.
The trip to the Edge of the World from Riyadh takes about 90 minutes by
car. Hikers can choose from a range of routes to get to the top, but with
rugged terrain, steep climbs and sharp rocks, good walking shoes are a must.
Due to the popularity of the Edge of the World, local authorities have
paved a road that leads to the gates of the site. Through the gates you’ll find
the Sha’ib Kharmah, a large valley that becomes lush and green during the rainy
season (November through April) and is an ideal spot for a picnic. The valley
runs west for approximately 15 kilometers until it reaches the feet of the
massive cliffs that make up the Edge of the World.
You will need a SUV with clearance to get here, but four-wheel drive is
optional. A guide/tour is not needed. You should be familiar with driving on
dirt roads that are heavily potholed, as it is easy enough to pop a tire if you
drive too fast and hit one of the rocky potholes. The Google Maps way has no
signs or much in terms of physical waypoints, but the GPS is spot on. MAPS.ME
also has accurate GPS for the roads. Be sure to stock up on food and water
before attempting either road. It's best to go with another vehicle in case you
get stuck as there isn't any cellular reception here.
On The Way Around lists two different approaches. The most popular one
is via the Acacia Valley, but it is only open on Fridays and Saturdays. The
other approach via the Sadus Dam is open at all times. Roads are rough on both
routes, and low-rise vehicles will have trouble.
Asian Destinations Readers can go Edge of the World an hour or two
before sunset. The light at this time of day is amazing, it turns the pale
cliffs into a gorgeous orange colour. You’ll have trouble putting down your
camera. Mid-day is also okay, but you won’t have quite as dramatic light on the
cliffs. When the sunrise the cliffs will be in a shadow for a while until the
sun gets high enough.
Asian Destinations Readers can do Hiking and Camping in the Edge of the
World. It’s possible to hike down to the bottom of the cliffs if you follow the
path from the main parking area. Depending on your fitness, I would guess that
this is roughly a 2-hour round-trip. You can also hike along the top of the
cliffs for more unique views. It’s easy to get away from the small number of
other people here. Camping here is allowed, although you may get a visit from a
park ranger shortly after sunset asking if everything is ok.
Sources
:
https://www.visitsaudi.com/en/do/adventure-activities/standing-on-the-edge-of-the-world
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-edge-of-the-world
https://onthewayaround.com/edge-of-the-world-guide/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia
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