zara cliff walk

zara Dead Sea Panoramic Complex

cliff walk

zara cliff walk

T

he Dead Sea Panoramic Complex enables visitors to understand the wonder of this unusual area.

Located on the Great Rift Valley, which runs from Ethiopia to Turkey, the Dead Sea is a unique ecosystem in the lowest point on earth. The 500-meter overlook from the top of the Zara Cliffs provides a distinctive perspective.

The four sections of the museum, Jordan's first specialized natural history museum dedicated to the Dead Sea area, describe the geology, ecology, archeology and conservation efforts in the Dead Sea. The geology section illustrates the formation of the Great Rift Valley, starting with a piece of 600-million-year-old pre-cambrian conglomerate. On the tour, you will see red and black (ferriguinous) sandstone. In the ecology section, you will be introduced to several species you may see on the tour, including Tristram’s grackle, the fan-tailed raven, and rock hyrax. The Dead Sea does not live up to its name; ten species of bacteria live in the water, despite the high salinity.

Zara Cliff Trail

Sand Snail

The archeology section focuses on regional human interaction, including Wadi Feynan, 60 km away, a copper mine ruin dating back to 4500-3000 BC, and the Zara Hot Springs, 12 km away, a palace and spa complex built by Herod in the 1st century AD. However, as can be seen in the last section, the Dead Sea is currently in danger, with a one meter decrease in water level per year, due to human exploitation and evaporation.

In the center is a model of the Sea in 1953, featuring main cities and landmarks.

Start trail Self-guided trail Length: 1.4 km (round trip) Level of difficulty: Easy Leaving the museum, turn left, pass The Nature Shop, and head outdoors. Walk by the Rock Garden, including the petrified tree, the volcanic bombs and the 100 million year old limestone, and the Amphitheater, to the trailhead. The trail is clearly marked throughout, and punctuated by stations highlighting unique aspects of the area.

While walking, please stay back from the cliff’s edge -- it is a long way down!

Do not walk the trail after sunset.

If you are under 18, you should be supervised by an adult.

Walking the trail is under your personal responsibility.

Tristram’s Grackle

stop stations

Black Darkling Beetle

First stop station: 10 minutes

The gravel desert ecosystem is fragile and ancient. In the rocks, you will be able to see a variety of insect life. Over 100 varieties of large, black Darkling Beetles live in Jordan.

Some use foul chemicals to protect themselves.

39 varieties of land snails have been identified here. Once you spy their coiled shells, you will begin to see them everywhere. Hermaphroditic, snails protect themselves by producing a coat of mucus that coats their skin, repels predators and helps them move. Seed bugs, characterized by their red and black coloring, can cause crop damage when they gather in swarms. The Dead Sea is naturally hazy. The lack of elevation increases both the temperature and the evaporation rate. However, since the winds are usually calm, the water vapor lingers in the air, causing the haze.

Second stop station: 15 minutes

In the valley below you can see plants, including Tamarix and Date Palms. The Tamarix are salt-hardy evergreen shrubs with white or pink flowers and grey-green leaves.

Because they secrete salt through their leaves during the day, the plant absorbs water at night, and in the morning the area beneath it is cooled by evaporation. Only female Date Palms bear fruit. The dates are high in vitamin C, and are traditionally eaten, along with yogurt, to break the fast during the holy month of Ramadan.

As the groundwater flows through the sedimentary rocks, it deposits minerals, producing layers of different colors.

Watch for oddly shaped rocks, sculpted by erosion, a natural weathering process.

Tamarix

Fan Tailed Raven

Third stop station: 5 minutes

This is a prime spot to look for birds soaring on the thermals. Tristram’s grackle is commonly found in flocks, with black males and brown females, both with a yellowish wing patch. They feed on fruit and sometimes groom wild goats for the insects. The fan-tailed raven has black and gray plumage and gets its name from the position of its tail during flight. If you listen carefully, you may hear the distinctive call of the chukar, or partridge. It nests on the ground and seeks water twice a day. On a clear day, you will have views of Palestine, especially Jerusalem and the West Bank, as well as the beautiful Sea itself.

Fourth stop station: 5 minutes

This is the halfway mark of the trail, but a wonderful place to linger. Look carefully amongst the rocks for rock hyrax, tiny relatives of the elephant. Much like humans at the Dead Sea, they regulate their body temperature by basking in the sun or hiding in the shade! They have a brown coat, squat body and rubbery feet with excellent traction.

Returning to the Complex offers a different perspective. The Complex itself is built of indigenous travertine, a strong stone whose golden color blends in perfectly with the environment and can withstand both high temperatures and humidity. The Islamic Oriental design complements the history of the area.

Delicious, healthy indoor/outdoor dining is available from morning until evening at the Panorama Restaurant, run by Six Senses Ma'in Spa.

Rock Hyrax

Zara cliff walk map

If you would like more information about the Dead Sea region, feel free to return to the museum and watch the two films, “Ecology of the Dead Sea” and “Dead Sea in Danger”.

The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN)

Is an independent non-governmental organization devoted to the conservation of Jordan’s natural resources. Established in 1966 under the patronage of His Majesty the late King Hussein and has been given responsibility by the Jordanian government for protecting the country’s wildlife and wild places.

Wild Jordan

Is the division of RSCN that is responsible for socio-economic projects, including all eco-tourism and handicraft enterprises that link the protection of nature with improving the livelihoods of local communities.

Contacts

Dead Sea Panoramic Complex (+962 5) 3491 133 Email: tourism@rscn.org.jo Wild Jordan (+962 6) 4616 523 Email: panorama@rscn.org.jo www.rscn.org.jo