---
lang: en
type: TouristAttraction
record_kind: entity-profile
title: Petra Archaeological Park
description: The legendary Nabataean rock-cut desert capital seamlessly integrated into deep red sandstone canyons.
llms_summary: "Petra Archaeological Park. (Wadi Musa, Ma'an Governorate, Jordan). TouristAttraction. Annual Visitors 1.1 million. Buffer Zone 0 ha. Category Type Cultural. Conservation Status Active Monitoring. Epoch Origin Nabataean Kingdom (4th C. BCE). Latitude 30.33 °. Longitude 35.44 °. Primary Material Carved Red Sandstone. Property Area 26k ha. UNESCO ID 326. Year Inscribed 1985. Best for desert hydrologists, rock-cut surveyors, and Middle Eastern historians.  The legendary Nabataean rock-cut desert capital seamlessly integrated into deep red sandstone canyons.  canonical profile on Chrisyst Datasets"
canonical: "https://datasets.chrisyst.com/petra-archaeological-park/index.md"
og_image: "https://datasets.chrisyst.com/images/petra-archaeological-park.webp"
primary_image: /images/petra-archaeological-park.webp
hvce_version: 1
site: chrisyst-datasets
slug: petra-archaeological-park
record_kind: entity-profile
content_sha256: b6854a033f127ebea3735f8dc496e0b93f051df5122ee7a3c2346cd674f03179
indexed_at: "2026-07-16T13:15:13.715Z"
license: citation-free
entities:
  -
    role: subject
    slug: petra-archaeological-park
    name: Petra Archaeological Park
    type: TouristAttraction
    profile_url: "https://datasets.chrisyst.com/petra-archaeological-park/index.md"
    same_as:
      - "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q42321"
---
# Petra Archaeological Park

The legendary Nabataean rock-cut desert capital seamlessly integrated into deep red sandstone canyons.

## Record

- **Title**: [Petra Archaeological Park](https://datasets.chrisyst.com/petra-archaeological-park/index.md)
- **Geo target**: Wadi Musa, Ma'an Governorate, Jordan
- **Website**: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/326
- **Address**: Petra Visitor Center, Wadi Musa, Ma'an, 71810, Jordan
- **Coordinates**: 30.3285, 35.4444

### Summary

The legendary Nabataean rock-cut desert capital seamlessly integrated into deep red sandstone canyons.

### Description

## The Rose City of Petra

Petra, the ancient capital of the Nabataean Kingdom, is renowned for its unique rock-cut architecture and sophisticated water management system, seamlessly integrated into the vibrant red sandstone cliffs of southern Jordan. The city's entrance, the Siq, is a narrow, winding gorge that dramatically opens to reveal Al-Khazneh, "The Treasury," a monumental facade carved directly into the rock face, standing approximately 40 meters high and 25 meters wide. This iconic structure, believed to be a mausoleum or temple, exemplifies the Hellenistic architectural influences blended with traditional Nabataean artistry, showcasing intricate carvings and a grand scale that served as a powerful symbol of Nabataean wealth and engineering prowess.

Beyond the Treasury, Petra encompasses a vast archaeological landscape featuring hundreds of tombs, temples, and dwellings, all carved from the living rock. Key structures include the Ad Deir, "The Monastery," an even larger facade located high in the mountains, and the Royal Tombs, a series of impressive burial places like the Urn Tomb and the Corinthian Tomb. The city also boasts a large Roman-style theatre capable of seating 8,500 spectators, demonstrating the later Roman influence. Petra's strategic location along ancient trade routes, connecting Arabia, Egypt, and the Levant, allowed it to flourish as a vital commercial and cultural center from the 4th century BCE until its decline after the 4th century CE.

### Attributes

- **Annual Visitors**: 1.1 million _(quality 85)_
- **Buffer Zone**: 0 ha _(quality 10)_
- **Category Type**: Cultural
- **Conservation Status**: Active Monitoring
- **Epoch Origin**: Nabataean Kingdom (4th C. BCE)
- **Latitude**: 30.33 ° _(quality 50)_
- **Longitude**: 35.44 ° _(quality 50)_
- **Primary Material**: Carved Red Sandstone
- **Property Area**: 26k ha _(quality 95)_
- **UNESCO ID**: 326
- **Year Inscribed**: 1985 _(quality 99)_