Azraq Wetlands Reserve

The Azraq Wetland is located in the heart of the Jordanian eastern desert, and about 100 km to the east of Amman. Much of Jordan is desert or semi-desert and arid climate, and as a consequence there are rather few large wetlands, the best known being Azraq Oasis in the Eastern Desert (Scott, 1995). Azraq Oasis is a large desert oasis formerly comprised a complex of spring-fed marshes and pools adjacent to a large seasonally flooded mudflat (Qa Al Azraq). With its permanent fresh water has always been a rich habitat providing sources of livelihood for man and wildlife. Azraq Oasis provides the natural habitat for numerous aquatic and terrestrial species, including the Azraq Killifish Aphanius sirhani; the only true endemic vertebrate species of Jordan.

Azraq Oasis is located at the heart of a large internal drainage basin covering around 12,710 km², most of which (94%) lies in Jordanian territory, with the reminder in Syria (5%) and Saudi Arabia (1%). The highest relief in the basin is at Tillin Town in Syria with an elevation of 1,550 m; the lowest point is at Qa Al Azraq in the Azraq Depression, with an elevation of 500 m. The catchments area is drained by a number of wadies. The annual safe yield of the basin was estimated by 20 – 25 MCM/yr.

In 1977, the Ramsar Convention declared Azraq Wetland and the adjacent mudflat (Qa Al Azraq) as a major station for migratory birds on the African-Eurasian flyway. Therefore, The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) acclaimed Azraq Wetland as a reserve of national and international importance.

Qa Al Azraq covers some 75 km2, and is fed by surface run-off from an extensive network of wadies. The Qa is partly or wholly flooded in most winters, creating a temporary fresh to brackish lake with a maximum depth of 1.25 m and broad muddy margins. The Qa when flooded is considered to be the most important site as a stopover and wintering site for migratory wildfowl in Jordan (Bird Census Report, RSCN, 2003).

The Azraq Wetland Reserve contains one of the world’s most remarkable habitats. Located in the middle of a dry desert in the Saharo-Arabian bio-geographic region, yet it contains a variety of habitats and microhabitats that are only found in wetlands environments (Azraq Wetland Reserve Management Plan, 1998). Five major sub-ecosystems exist in Azraq Wetland Reserve; the Lake sub-ecosystem with its fresh water, the Marsh sub-ecosystem with its moderately saline water and soil, seasonally water Streams sub-ecosystem, Silt Dune sub-ecosystem with its dry and highly saline soils and the mudflat (Qa) sub-ecosystem with its highly saline water and soil.