Best time to visit Al Asfar Lake

The ideal season to visit Yellow Lake is in the winter, from November to February. During the Winter Season, the weather remains pleasant with the inflow of cool breezes. The moderate weather during winters facilitates visitors to explore the region at its best.

How to reach Al Asfar Lake

The Yellow Lake is located near Al-Ahsa, 13 kilometers east of Omran. The only way to get to the lake is with the help of safari organizers or reliable tour guides. Further, to tackle desert-like terrain, the best vehicle to travel to Yellow Lake is a four-wheel-drive vehicle.

Al Asfar Lake history

UNESCO has designated Al-Ahsa as a World Heritage Site. Al-Hassa is the world’s biggest oasis, covering over 20,000 hectares, and one of Saudi Arabia’s largest and oldest agricultural centers. Al Asfar Lake is among the 12 UNESCO sites located in Al Ahsa. It is one of the most essential shallow wetland lakes in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province. In 1971, an irrigation system was installed, delivering 328,000,000 cubic meters of spring water to around 22,000 farms, with treated effluent from the Al-Hofuf sewage station providing extra water. A drainage network collects the excess water and discharges it into two evaporation lakes known as Al-Asfar and Al-Uyoun. Wetlands, sabkhas, dunes, and vast stretches of open water encompass the lake. The Afsar Lake is declared a natural reserve, according to the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture.

Al Asfar Lake landscape

The lake is a charming site with unspoiled nature to escape from the chaos of cities. Yellow lake derives its water from Al Ahsa’s irrigation springs, which serve over 22,000 fields. The lake is surrounded by flowing water, lush greenery, and dunes-making it a magnificent tourist destination. One of the fascinating facts about Yellow lake is that the lake’s hue changes from dark in the summer to bright in the winter. Migratory birds flock to Yellow Lake twice a year from cooler climatic regions like Russia, Canada, India, and Iran. Heavy metals, primarily from agricultural runoff, have polluted the lake water, and the levels keep fluctuating periodically.

Al Asfar Lake flora And fauna

1. Flora

The Yellow Lake has various zones, including Wet, Moist, Semi-dry, and Dry Zones. Thus, diverse plant species are found in different zones. Around Afsar Lake, there are at least 39 plant species belonging to 20 other groups. Water levels fluctuate, resulting in various situations benefiting vegetation and maintaining plant varieties.

2. Fauna

Migratory birds, such as squacco herons and tiny grebes, migrate to the lake in winter. Many creatures, such as turtles and frogs, can also be found in Yellow Lake. The lake is also home to several algal and waterweed species.

Things to do at Al Asfar Lake for tourists

1. Day camping

Surrounded by rich foliage and undulating golden dunes, Yellow Lake is a beautiful camping place in Al Ahsa, eastern province. Tourists can take in the breathtaking view of Yellow Lake against the backdrop of the desert environment. During a campfire session in the evening, campers can enjoy delectable barbeque dishes and a live music session with family/friends.

Timings: 2:30 PM – 6:40 PM, everyday

2. Desert ride

On a Desert Safari to Al-Asfar Lake in a 4X4 SUV, visitors will have an unforgettable experience of driving through the dunes and stopping by the beautiful lake. The excitement of straying off the beaten path and driving across soft, gleaming golden sand is genuinely liberating. The activity needs a balance and speed for driving and maneuvering a vehicle up and down the dunes. Visitors should book a trip with an experienced local tour provider who knows the terrain better to avoid any mishaps.

Timings: 2:30 PM – 6:40 PM, everyday

3. Private boat ride

Private Boat Tours are available for tourists who want to take in the full splendor of the Yellow Lake. During the winter, one can go on a private boat excursion on Al-Ahsa Lake to watch 39 plant species and migrating birds in their native environment.

From offering campsites to photography opportunities, Yellow Lake is a fantastic destination. During the winter in Saudi Arabia, tourists visit the lake to see some unforgettable vistas and create lasting memories.

Suggested Read: Al Ahsa Tourism: Top Attractions, Best Stays, And How To Reach

Al Asfar Lake FAQs

The post Al Asfar Lake Is A Beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site In Al Ahsa appeared first on Zamzam Blogs.

Al-Aqsa Mosque History

The Mosque built on Temple Mount is known as Haram al-Sharif, this was expanded by King Herod the Great. Before this, in Islamic beliefs, the masjid is known to be dated to the time of Prophet Ibraham (PBUH). The Aqsa mosque was an important mosque during the lifetime of Prophet Ibrahim, his son Prophet Ishaq and grandson Prophet Yaqub(PBUH). When Prophet Yaqub’s son, Prophet Yusuf (PBUH) came into power, he suggested leaving Egypt where they were engulfed by poverty. Ever since there was no one to guard the Al-Aqsa mosque as their own and hence it expanded, renovated, and reconstructed many times. He trusted the people of Palestine, who were his believers to take care of the mosque.

The Israelites migrated to Egypt to look for better prospects of better material life. But these people fell into becoming slaves for the Egyptians until Prophet Musa (PBUH) or Moses was ordered by Allah to save them. However, they refused to return to Palestine on the orders of God and therefore were banished to wander around the desert for 40 years. This was the history of the Jews. Prophet Daoud (PBUH) started his kingdom in Palestine, and his son re-established the masjid with the help of the local people aside from which he also built a palace.

Importance and Story of Al-Aqsa Mosque

The masjid Al Aqsa Jerusalem played a very important role in the life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The main reason for significance of Al Aqsa Mosque was that the masjid was home to many Prophets before Muhammad (PBUH) went there. It was the center of preaching monotheism. Later by order of Allah, the believers turned from facing the masjid to the holy Kaaba. A significant part of the history of Al Aqsa, which actually makes it an important mosque in Islam is the night of the journey or the night of Isra. During this journey, the Prophet fell asleep on the Kaaba, late at night. That is when the angel Jibreel provided him with a winged creature known as Burqa, who carried the Prophet(PBUH) to this mosque. Later that night, the Prophet (PBUH) departed his journey to Heaven.

Suggested Read: Isra Miraj: The Night Journey Of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

After the Prophet (PBUH) died, the second kalif of Islam, Umar Al Khattab entered Jerusalem without shedding any blood, when a Christian leader invited him. Umar’s personality resembled that of their liberator and thus, it wasn’t that difficult to accept him as their leader. Both Christians and Jews were happy to have him and the Muslims with their justice.

Al-Aqsa Mosque Architecture

The history of Al-Aqsa mentions some important architectural changes. The mosque is constructed upon an artificial platform supported by arches that were built to overcome difficult typographic conditions. The first renovation started in 1922. The renovations caused the establishment of the mosque’s ancient Umayyad foundations that changed the interior columns by the replacement of beams. These conserved the arches and drums in the interior of the main dome. The southern wall was also rebuilt and replaced timber with a slab of concrete.

However, earthquakes destroyed some of the renovations. And thus, finally, the architecture came down to:

• A rectangular mosque, that goes over for 36 acres and can accommodate 5000 worshipers.
• There is a Dome of Rock, which exhibits Byzantine architecture. Although nothing remains originally, the present-day dome is woodwork plated with enamelwork.
• Under the dome is a chapel or a Muslim prayer hall which is situated in the southern part of the masjid.
• The mosque also consists of a facade filled with balustrades consisting of arcades and small columns.
• The interior of the mosque features seven aisles with many halls. The mosaic and the inscriptions are facing the main entrance near the dome.

Al-Aqsa Mosque facts

1. Masjid Al Aqsa is not just one mosque but a collection of mosques.
2. The main mosque in the Al Aqsa complex is Qibla Mosque, present in the southern corner of the premises.
3. Buraq Masjid and Marwani Mosque are also present in the Haram Al-Sharif or Al Aqsa Mosque.
4. There are many graves of noble Muslims present in the complex, such as the grave of Prophet Suleiman.
5. The name of the Masjid is mentioned in the holy book of the Quran along with the Holy Kaaba.
6. Ihyaa Ulum Al-Din by Abu Hamid Al Ghazali, a famous Islamic literature book, was written inside Al Aqsa.
7. The dome of the rock is among the initial domes built in Islam.
8. Al Aqsa for long was used as dumping grounds by Romans until Hazrat Umar cleared the trash and litter from the premises.

An important part of the Islamic history, this mosque is a symbol of Allah’s greatness. It stands for a lot of things, and is an important Islamic religious site for Muslims around the world. A visit here is all one needs to witness the grandeur and the beauty of the Al Aqsa mosque.

FAQs about Al-Aqsa Mosque & Its History

The post Importance And History Of Al-Aqsa Mosque Jerusalem appeared first on Zamzam Blogs.