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Ma'an was a famous stop on the pilgrim route, and is often
called the "Pilgrim City." You can reach this route
by car or bus, by traveling south from Amman on the Desert Highway
that takes you to Aqaba. If you are planning only a short stop,
drive into town and proceed to the south east corner of the city.
From there you will see signs to the Museum for King Abdulla
the First, and beside this museum is the train station. In the
center of town is an open area, known as the Pilgrim stop. Ma'an
is an almost totally Muslim city, and folk there are usually
pleased to give you directions to the museums. It is also an
old oasis, as well as the largest city around.
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- The Museum in Ma'an is next to the train tracks and
station. The buildings here were once used by King Abdalla I
of Jordan when the first government was being formed in the new
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
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Ma'an is an ancient oasis in the desert.
For many years it was an ancient caravan stop. There are Nabataean
and Roman ruins here. Ma'an may also have been the place of teh
12 Palm Trees where Moses stopped with the Children of Israel
on his way north. |
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- Near the train station is the maintanance shop
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Train passing the abandoned glass factory.
The trains carry phosphate from the mines to the port in Aqaba.
The glass factory used to make glass from the near pure silacone
that is found south of Ras al Naqab. The factory was abandonded
after it was discovered that little maintanance had been done
for several years. Apparently the last manager ran off with a
fortune, and is living in another country. |
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- Turkish fort/jail, now a museum and cultural center. Ma'an
was once a major center for the Turkish Army. They maintained
control of the area from this fort, as well as a series of smaller
fortification in nearby settlements.
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Near to modern Ma'an is the old oasis,
with many ruined houses. Dates are still harvested here from
the trees. |
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- The city of Ma'an prides itself as being a main stoping place
on the Hejaz Railway. On the north side of town they have erected
a monument to their importance... two rail cars and an engine.
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On closer inspection, that's no engine!
It's a tank car with a fake looking cab welded on the front! |
Other Rail Lines and Miscellaneous
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