Aqaba

Aqaba

Aqaba is a port town located in the southwestern corner of Jordan. It is along the Gulf of Aqaba, an inlet of the Red Sea, to the east of the Jordan-Israel border. It is the country's only maritime port. The area has been settled for millennia because of the freshwater springs nearby. King Solomon's port and the Ezion-geber foundry were close by. The strategic location of Aqaba on the north-east tip of the Red Sea, nestled between the continents of Asia and Africa, has made it an important port for many thousands of years. The ancient city was called Elath, which was adopted as Aela in the Latin language and as Ayla in the Arabic language. Aela developed into a bishopric under Byzantine rule and became a Latin Catholic titular see following the Islamic conquest around 650 AD, at which time it became known as Ayla. The name Aqaba is actually from the late Middle Ages. The proximity of Aqaba to Wadi Rum and Petra has placed it in Jordan's Golden Triangle of tourism, strengthening the city's position on the world stage and making it one of the most important tourist destinations in Jordan. The city is famous for its more than thirty primary dive sites, most of which cater for divers of all levels. These dive sites are made up of fringing reefs that stretch for more than 25 kilometers and reach all the way to the border with Saudi Arabia. There are about 500 species of fish in the Gulf of Aqaba, many of which are resident, such as lionfish and octopus, whereas others are migratory, usually showing up in the summer.