{"id":2404,"date":"2018-10-08T10:46:43","date_gmt":"2018-10-08T10:46:43","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2018-10-08T10:46:43","modified_gmt":"2018-10-08T10:46:43","slug":"5-things-to-know-about-the-mini-desert-oasis-in-riyadh-known-as-the-wadi-hanifah","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lovin.co\/riyadh\/en\/riyadh\/5-things-to-know-about-the-mini-desert-oasis-in-riyadh-known-as-the-wadi-hanifah\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Things To Know About The Mini Desert Oasis In Riyadh Known As The Wadi Hanifah"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Wadi Hanifah is a 120-km wadi (valley) that runs from the Kingdom’s northwest to Southeast along the capital city of Riyadh.<\/p>\n

It’s a popular weekend destination for many families, often a serene spot for a chilled-out picnic or just a place to bask in of one of nature’s many astonishing landscapes.<\/p>\n

The valley, along with the city, comes with a myriad of historical past that we’re going to learn a little more about in this article:<\/p>\n

(Image Credits: Social Media\/ Instagram @ludacris_ulla & daralarkandev<\/a>)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div>\n
\n
View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

A post shared by Ahmad Sherbini (@ahmadsherbini)<\/a> on

<\/center><\/p>\n

1. The Wadi Hanifa was called ‘al- Irdh<\/em>‘ during the pre-Islamic Saudi era<\/h3>\n

According to online sources, its older name al-Irdh <\/em>was derived from Banu Hanifa which was, at its time, the main Arab tribe in the area.<\/p>\n

The tribe Bani Hanifah inhabited the valley during the fifth century AD, fyi.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div>\n
\n
View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

A post shared by R E Y L L A \u2728 (@reylla_dc)<\/a> on

<\/center><\/p>\n

2. It is the longest and most important valley near Riyadh<\/h3>\n

AKDN<\/a> says that the Hanifa Valley is the most important one near Riyadh and this is probably due to its natural water drainage course in a wide area of 4,000 square kms and of course, the fact that it’s a unique scene unexpected from Riyadh’s dry region.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div>\n
\n
View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

A post shared by ???? ???? ???????????????????????? ???????????????? ???? (\ufdfd) – ???? (@bachelor_banda_)<\/a> on

<\/center><\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

3. History claims that the valley was also part of the ancient kingdom of al-Yamamah<\/h3>\n

Since rain fell heavily in the region during the Kingdom’s pre-historic times, this aspect became part of the local folk tradition that says the area where the valley now sits once had a rich oasis and fertile farmland.<\/p>\n

The ancient kingdom of al-Yamamah were the ones to reflect on this local folk tradition. A continuation of the story mentioned God’s wrath and visitation of a plague of locusts and drought that the land never recovered from.<\/p>\n

Hard to imagine this oasis not being intact, which brings us to our next fact…<\/p>\n