Yemen – Tumultuous History, Unbelievable Natural Beauty

by erin on November 22, 2010

If you would like to visit a place that not only has lots of historical value, but is also a naturally beautiful land, try Yemen. Many tourist destinations fall into the trap of catering their culture and cities to the tourists, places like Yemen that are off the beaten path can be wonderful to visit. Here you can experience culture at its finest. However, keep in mind that if you intend to travel internationally, you will need a passport. If you are in a hurry, your best bet is to fill out U S passport application forms online.

Online passport services have many benefits to offer. Not only do you have the option to choose from many different delivery speeds such as one day passport renewal, but you also do not have to stand in line! You can also find tons of information on the different requirements and documents that you need to provide which helps to eliminate last minute surprises.

One of the great aspects of Yemen is that it is home to a total of four UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This is a special honor that is given to areas of the world that hold significant historical and natural value. They are very often visually captivating as well as mentally intriguing. One of these sites is the city of Sansa’a. Its history reaches as far back as 2,500 years! It was not only a hub for political, religious, and economic activity, but it also contains over 103 mosques, 14 hammams, and over 6,000 houses that were all constructed prior to the 11th century.

Another UNESCO site in Yemen is Shibam-Hadramout which is also referred to as “The Manhattan of the Desert”. This city is not only surrounded by a fortified wall, but many of the buildings are actually constructed on the side of a cliff! The town of Zabid is another World Heritage Site. This town is known for both its archeological significance and its history. In the 13th – 15th centuries it was the capital of Yemen, which is reflected in its amazing architecture and even features an Islamic university.

Lastly, the Socotro Archipelago is another must see destination in Yemen. It is also a UNESCO site and has become famous for its great ecological significance. Its raw natural beauty and its biodiversity are very unique. In fact, this series of islands and islets has life forms that are not found anywhere else in the entire earth! To be exact, 37% of its 825 plant species, 90% of its reptile species, and 95% of its land snail species are not found anywhere else. There are also many different types of birds, marine life, coral, etc. Quite a site to see!

Overall, Yemen is a great place to visit. Its certainly not the typical tourist destination, but that just helps to add to its mystique! The fact that its culture remains untouched by tourism is a great thing. However, if you do plan on taking a trip to visit this place, keep in mind that you will need to make sure your passport is up to date. If you don’t have a passport, you can easily find services online. If you have one but it is expired, you can apply for expedited passport service if you are in a rush. Whatever the situation is, just don’t forget to bring a camera with you on your trip!

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