Sarawat Mountains

The Sarawat Mountains (Template:Langx), also known as the Sarat in singular case, is a mountain range in the western part of the Arabian Peninsula. In a broad sense, it runs parallel to the eastern coast of the Red Sea, and thus encompasses the mountains of Fayfa, Asir, Taif, and the Hijaz (which can be seen as including the Midian Mountains). In a narrow sense, the Sarawat start in Taif city in Saudi Arabia, and extend to the Gulf of Aden in the south, running along the entire western coast of Yemen and extending eastwards parallel to the Gulf of Aden.

Geology

File:Living on the verge of Habala Valley.jpg

Habala Valley near Ahad Rafidah in the Asir Mountains of Saudi Arabia

These mountains are mainly rocky though some contain vegetation. Many of the peaks are fairly young and jagged, but some are smoother from weathering. Nearing the Yemeni border, the Sarawat begin to spread into individual peaks, and the Hejaz turns from a cliff to a gradual ascent up to the Yemeni Plateau. In Yemen, the Sarawat are divided into the western and central highlands, where the western highlands receive plenty of precipitation, more than anywhere else in the peninsula, and the central highlands have the highest mountains in the peninsula. A very dramatic part of the Yemeni Sarawat are the Haraz Mountains, where a few peaks top , but the descents and views from the mountains are staggering; some foots of mountains are only at above sea level yet their peaks are at . All of the mountains over are located in Yemen, the highest of which is Jabal An-Nabi Shu'ayb near the capital Sana'a. At , Jabal An-Nabi Shu'ayb is also the highest peak in Arabia.

Geologically, the Sarawat is part of the Arabian Shield, and are made up mostly of volcanic rock. The western slopes end abruptly near the Red Sea coast, while the eastern side of the mountain range slopes downward more gently and is intersected by wadis that support agriculture, especially in the southern reaches of the Sarawat, where the mountains face the monsoons. Among the cities located within the Sarawat is the Yemeni capital, San'a, located near some of the Sarawat's highest peaks.

Wildlife

File:Taif Baboon (8356057378).jpg

Hamadryas baboon near Ta'if in the Hejaz

The presence of the Arabian leopard was reported here. Hamadryas baboons are present in both Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

Gallery

• A terraced side of one of the Haraz Mountains in Al Mahwit Governorate, near Jabal An-Nabi Shu'ayb, the highest peak in the Arabian Peninsula, near Sanaa in Yemen
  A terraced side of one of the Haraz Mountains in Al Mahwit Governorate, near Jabal An-Nabi Shu'ayb, the highest peak in the Arabian Peninsula, near Sanaa in Yemen
• Mountains to the west of southern Sana'a, Yemen. Jabal An-Nabi Shu'ayb is behind the mountain in the background.
  Mountains to the west of southern Sana'a, Yemen. Jabal An-Nabi Shu'ayb is behind the mountain in the background.
• Jabal Nuqm or Jabal Nuqum in the area of Sana'a. Local legend has it that after the death of Noah, his son Shem built the city at the base of this mountain.[12]
  Jabal Nuqm or Jabal Nuqum in the area of Sana'a. Local legend has it that after the death of Noah, his son Shem built the city at the base of this mountain.
• Jabal Sawdah in Saudi Arabia
  Jabal Sawdah in Saudi Arabia
• Mountains of Ta'if
  Mountains of Ta'if
• ISS-36 Night-time view of southwestern Saudi Arabia
  ISS-36 Night-time view of southwestern Saudi Arabia

See also

• Hajhir Mountains
• Dhorm Mountain
• South Arabia
  • Southwestern Arabian foothills savanna
• Tihamah