Al-Qarah
Al-Qarah or Al-Garah (Arabic: القارة) is a village in Al-Ahsa in Saudi Arabia. Al-Qarah is well known for its small mountain Jabl Al-Qarah. Al-Qarah is one of Al-Ahsa's eastern villages and is located about 10 km from Al-Hofuf,[1] city center, 140 km Southwest of Dammam and 300 km East of Riyadh.[2]
Jabl Al-Qarah
Jabl Al-Qarah (Arabic = جبل القارة, which means mountain of Al-Qarah) is a mesa that stands about 75 metres (246 ft) high,[1] with a maximum elevation of 225 meter above sea level.[2] It has many caves with very cool air inside. Unlike many caves, these were formed by subaerial weathering rather than dissolution, and as a result have a highly distinctive shape.[1] The mountain attracts many people especially from nearby villages, and has been targeted for additional tourist development.[3] Although there are no other hills for a considerable distance,[4] Jabl Al-Qarah is an outlier of the larger Shedgum Plateau.[1]
The caves, which include 28 tall linear passageways totaling 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) in length, have long been a site of commerce.[1] Some caves of Jabl Al-Garah have traditionally been the site of the workshops of local traditional potters, who are known for the quality of their wares.[4][5]
A plaque about the mountain and a parking lot near the main access trail is at 25.411509°N 49.692755°E.
References
- Mahbub Hussain; Fadhel Al-Khalifah; Nazrul Islam Khandaker (April 2006). "The Jabal Al Qarah Caves of the Hofuf Area, Northeastern Saudi Arabia: A geological investigation" (PDF). Journal of Cave and Karst Studies. 68 (1): 12–21. Retrieved 2017-12-04.
- Agron, Edmon (1 September 2018). "Al Qarah Caves: Amazing narrow canyons and nature's fascinating views". eVolved. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- SULTAN AL-SUGHAIR. "Hofuf's Al-Qarah village to be developed". Arab News.
- Erik Mandaville (May 1988). "An Arabian Cave Potter" (PDF). Ceramics Monthly. pp. 36–39.
- "The Potters of al-Qarah". Saudi Aramco World. October 1961.