Petra Facts

Petra Facts for Kids

• The ancient city of Petra is also known as the ‘Rose City’. This is because the rock in which the city is built is a rose-red colour. The red rock was originally known as Mount Hor.
• Petra is the Greek word for stone and this name makes perfect sense because of where the city is located and how some of it is carved into the rock.
• In 2007, this historic place was named as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
• In 362 AD, the city suffered from terrible earthquakes that left most of the city with a lot of damage. The buildings and the city’s water system were affected.
• Petra is famous for its amazing building but also the water conduit system!
• The area in Jordan where Petra is found is known to experience flooding. The water from the floods was controlled by a system put in place that would store the water that would help the city through periods of drought.
• A Swiss Explorer, Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, discovered this city of wonders in 1812. Until he discovered Petra, it had been unheard of to the Western World for about 5 centuries!
• Did you know that only 15% of the city has been explored by researchers and archaeologists? Maybe one day you will grow up to join the investigation and make a discovery of your own!
• The city remains a big tourist attraction to this day and people come from all over the world to visit it.
• The city has even been the location of many documentaries and Hollywood movies such as Indiana Jones!