Country overview

The Republic of Yemen is bordered by Saudi Arabia, Oman and the Gulf of Aden. To the west lies the Red Sea. Yemen is predominantly mountainous, supporting terraced agriculture. The Central Region, intensely cultivated for centuries, is the site of many of the major towns.

Sana'a, the capital, dates back to the first century. The citadel, Qasr al-Silah, was rebuilt after the arrival of Islam in the seventh century. The Great Mosque of Sana'a is the oldest and largest of the mosques in Sana'a. Ta'izz lies in the south at an altitude of 1400m (4590ft).

The old city has been all but swallowed up by modern developments but beautiful old houses and mosques remain within the 13th-century city walls. The port of Aden is mentioned in the Biblical Book of Ezekiel (c. sixth century BC). There is a collection of pre-Islamic artefacts in the National Museum of Antiquities near Tawahi Harbour.

To the south of Aden is Little Aden, in the crater of an extinct volcano; this is an area of small fishing villages, with several superb beaches fringing the Indian Ocean. The seafood is particularly recommended, as is haradha (a mincemeat and pepper dish).

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Information in this section was last updated: Tue Dec 29 2009