The Azraq Wetland Reserve is a unique oasis in the eastern desert of Jordan, situated between the limestone desert to the west and basalt desert to the west. Its selection of pools where water has collected naturally have given the area its name - Azraq, which is Arabic for blue.
Since 1978, the oasis has been protected, as it is an important destination for migratory birds. As well as those that stay for the winter and breed at Azraq, a number of others simply stop off to rest on the African-Eurasian flyway.
In the springtime, rains bring new life to the area surrounding Azraq and the hills are covered in greenery. Each year, around 2,000 species of wild flower emerge, which is an incredible sight right in the heart of the desert. It is the contrast with its surroundings that make Azraq so startlingly beautiful.