Off the beaten track Anna’s Nature Reserve, a piece of paradise

Always searching for a fountain of Youth or plush paradise, there may have been a discovery. Anna’s Valley, whether warm summers or cleansing rainy seasons, this places serves as God’s gift to Yemen. Luscious greenery, cool refreshing streams, hot sauna pools are just some of the little natural luxuries found in Anna’s’s Valley.  On the way to Anna’s Valley, visitors enjoy passing through the two green sides of trees, riding the great mountains, walking barefooted over streams, water tickling your feet. It’s the time to feel the nature in you.

Anna’s and al-Door Valleys in Odain was declared as nature reserves three months ago by the local representative, Governor Ahmed Abdullah al-Hajree, after a study performed to protect nature’s reserves in Ibb and to stop the environmental deterioration. A specialized team had been formed to carry out a preliminary study for nature reserves in Odain area. This team consisted of Rasheed Me’yad, the General Manager Deputy of Natural Resources, Khalid Al-Asbahi, Director of Nature Reserves, in coordination with the Public Commission Office for Environment Protection, under the direct supervision of Governor al-Hajree and Mr. Mahmoud Shediwah, Head of the Public Commission for Environment Protection.

Location of Anna’s Reserve

Anna’s Valley is located in the middle of al-Odain, one of the districts of Ibb governorate, located west of Ibb city. Al-Odain is famous with its green farms enveloped throughout the year as well as its valleys produce the best types of coffee, mango and cane sugar. Wadi Al-Door, a famous area in al-Odain had been sung about by poets and old singers. Odain is bordered by Hubaish, al-Hazm and al-Far’a districts from the north. The south section is bordered by Thee-Assofal, Mothaikhera and Jibla districts. Ibb city and Jibla district from the east, Far’a Al-Odain and Al-Salam districts from the West and Taiz governorate from the south-west.

Population

Al-Odain is about 230 square kilometers with a population of around 143,578 people, including 68,786 males and 74,792 females.

Population Activities:

- Crop Production: People depend on rain-crops such as corn, tomatoes, potatoes, mango, banana, guava, sugar cane and others.

- Animal Production: The population breeds sheep, goats, cows, camels and poultry, as well as the addition of raising bees for honey production.

- Traditional Crafts: Some women in the region work in the handicrafts industry, textiles, baskets, and in the manufacture preparing cheeses.

Weather

Mild in summer, cold in winter and rainy in summer. Rains is usually 76,003 mm/year.

Environmental Characteristics:

The environmental and geological features of the reserve of Anna’s and Odain is a variety of large and vital plant heights, high plateaus, plains and valleys.
Mountains & Valleys

The mountains’ altitude reaches 2700 meters above sea level. The most significant mountains are Zahikan, Kharshan, Akal, al-Sharaf, Bani Abdullah, al-Err, al-Modawara, al-Khusaifa’a, al-Aroos, al-Quff, al-Zahr, al-Orfi, al-Raida, al-Qadhl, al-Qafla, al-Akama, al-Sawda’a mountains and Azzan Fort.

The most significant valleys are al-Door, Anna’s, al-Qasemeya, Dahraz, Shabaz, al-Hagag, al-Masan and Alserbi valleys.

Biodiversity of the Reserve

Anna’s and al-Door locations are considered one of the species-rich flora and fauna locations. It is also a suitable habitat for many wild, endemic and migratory birds which take the valley as station for food and comfort during the its trips.

Vegetation

The reserve replete with a rich vegetarian cover is represented by the dense, acacia, lotus, Halas, Sanaf, Thrah, Kharoog, cactus, Ibgee, Aladena, Hanash onions, Samar, Oshar, Dhabbah, and Kathi trees.

Wild Animals

The Reserve is a habitat for many animals such as rabbits, wild hedgehogs, hyraxes, foxes, hyenas, and monkeys.

Birds

There are many birds, endemic and migratory birds of prey like hawks, osprey, eagles, and wild pigeons and types of birds such as the nightingale, Zar, Ghayl hens, sea swallows and others.

Reptilians and Insects

Many kinds of freshwater fish, frogs and eels with beautiful colors reside in the reserve of Anna’s.

Spas

 The reserve of Anna’s contains three spas which are the most famous in the district of Odain. These spas are distributed in different areas beginning with al-Sha’rani spa bath, about 6 km southeast of Odain and moving west with Sailat Anna’s until the end of the Al-Asloom bath 51 kilometers north west of Odain.

Archaeologies of the Reserve

The recently declared nature reserve of Anna’s includes many masterpieces as it includes a number of graves most of which are carved into the rocks. These graves have different forms and sizes. It is supposed that it belong to special characteristics of owners of the graves. It has several palaces, monuments and historic forts such as:

- Haswa Fort: One of the ancient locales dating back to the days of the Sulayhi State. It is an old archaeological monument surrounded by a number of monuments which highlight the historic role of this fort.

- The Great Mosque: It is considered one of the oldest mosques in Odain city, characterized with its archaeological shape in addition to its unique architecture.

 - Al-Radha’ee Mosque: This is the second most historical mosque in the district regarding to its construction which goes back to pre-500 years. It had been built by the charitable man, al-Saleh Gamal-al-Deen al-Radha’ee.

Tourism Components of Anna’s Nature Reserve

Anna’s and Al-Door nature reserves have many tourism components by virtue of the diversity of climate and elevations that can be visited by tourists during their stay in Yemen. The environment welcomes spectators to view the landscapes of the reserve and bird-watch and walk on foot to enjoy a breath of fresh air with the local population, as well as use the steam and natural hot water baths to rejuvenate health.

Give Trees a Right to Live

•  Trees are bumpers, preventing the rubbish to populate areas

•  Every tree prevents about 3 tons of dust per year from entering forested areas

•   Trees absorb a rate up to 50% of toxic gases such as lead and cadmium and the different oxides such as carbon dioxide, produced from vehicle exhaust.

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